US pledges to enhance cooperation with Mekong subregion’s countries

The US will bolster support for countries in the Mekong subregion through the Mekong-US partnership, US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Atul Keshap said at a recent online seminar to reveal results of a report on transboundary rivers and addressing challenges in Mekong River.
US pledges to enhance cooperation with Mekong subregion’s countries ảnh 1At the event (Photo: baoquocte.vn)
Washington D.C, (VNA) - The US will bolster support for countries in the Mekongsubregion through the Mekong-US partnership, US Principal Deputy AssistantSecretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Atul Keshapsaid at a recent online seminar to reveal results of a report ontransboundary rivers and addressing challenges in Mekong River.
He said the support will focus on the management oftransboundary water resources, regional economic connection, humanresources development and response to non-traditional security challenges,including those in the health sector.

The report was based on outcomes of a virtual Indo-Pacificconference on enhancing management of transboundary rivers hosted by theEast-West Centre last October. 

Speakers at the event said that the Mekongsubregion is facing challenges in security, development and climate change. 

Keshap expressed the US’s concerns over impacts ofhydropower dams in the Mekong River’s upper reaches on food security, economicdevelopment and environmental conditions of countries in lower reaches.

The US highly appreciates Vietnam’s efforts inpushing ASEAN’s cooperation to help the Mekong subregion cope with suchchallenges, he said.

Congressman Ted Lieu also affirmed that the USCongress wants the US government to further boost cooperation with the Mekong sub-regionvia the US-Mekong partnership. Since thelaunch of the Lower Mekong Initiative in 2009, the US has earmarked 3.5 billionUSD for countries in Mekong River’s lower reaches.

At the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US HaKim Ngoc underscored the significance of water security, especiallytransboundary water resources, to peace and prosperity in the region. 

Countries in the Mekong subregion shareresponsibilities for the use and management of Mekong River’s water resourcesin a sustainable manner in a bid to offset impacts on development and theenvironment, he added.

The diplomat affirmed that Vietnam is always aresponsible member in joint efforts to cope with challenges in environmentalissues, climate change, economic development and security in the Mekongsubregion. 

He proposed that countries work together to build regulationsand legally binding frameworks to manage transboundary rivers. 

He also called on the US and other partners toinvest in the region in the spheres of energy, infrastructure, climate changeadaptation and sustainable development./.
VNA

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