Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh led the Vietnamese delegation at theMinisterial Meeting of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) and theFriends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) Ministerial Meeting in Brunei onJuly 1.
Under the theme “Opportunities andChallenges on Connectivity and Environment”, the LMI meeting discussedchallenges to regional development and demands for cooperation andsupport for Mekong countries to narrow development gaps.
At the meeting, US Secretary of State John Kerry reaffirmed UScommitment to strengthen cooperation with Mekong countries in theimplementation of the LMI.
According to thedelegates, LMI cooperation made positive progress in six key sectionsthrough the implementation of a number of initiatives and jointcooperation programmes.
They agreed to create closer linksbetween the LMI and the Initiative of ASEAN Integration, and assistMekong countries in integrating into the fields that the US isstrong in, such as education and training, energy, informationtechnology and health care.
The meeting agreed to launch theEminent and Expert Persons Group to make recommendations to theMinisters on the strategic direction of the LMI and the way forward.
The Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) Ministerial Meeting discussedopportunities and challenges in the management of shared water resourcesin Mekong River.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham BinhMinh spoke highly of development dialogues, including with the US ,in implementing activities to strengthen connectivity and integrationbetween Mekong countries.
The Mekong basin in general andVietnam in particular will be seriously affected by climate change andother environmental challenges, Minh said, adding that related countriesshould abide by international law and the 1995 Mekong Agreement to useshared water resources sustainably and fairly.
The countrieswelcomed and pledged to implement two projects proposed by Vietnamin 2012 relating to the management of groundwater and water during thedry season in the Mekong basin.
Dialogue partners and donorspledged to help Mekong countries improve infrastructure, strive forsustainable development, and especially raise the capacity of the MekongRiver Commission in the evaluation of environmental impacts and watermanagement.-VNA
Under the theme “Opportunities andChallenges on Connectivity and Environment”, the LMI meeting discussedchallenges to regional development and demands for cooperation andsupport for Mekong countries to narrow development gaps.
At the meeting, US Secretary of State John Kerry reaffirmed UScommitment to strengthen cooperation with Mekong countries in theimplementation of the LMI.
According to thedelegates, LMI cooperation made positive progress in six key sectionsthrough the implementation of a number of initiatives and jointcooperation programmes.
They agreed to create closer linksbetween the LMI and the Initiative of ASEAN Integration, and assistMekong countries in integrating into the fields that the US isstrong in, such as education and training, energy, informationtechnology and health care.
The meeting agreed to launch theEminent and Expert Persons Group to make recommendations to theMinisters on the strategic direction of the LMI and the way forward.
The Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) Ministerial Meeting discussedopportunities and challenges in the management of shared water resourcesin Mekong River.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham BinhMinh spoke highly of development dialogues, including with the US ,in implementing activities to strengthen connectivity and integrationbetween Mekong countries.
The Mekong basin in general andVietnam in particular will be seriously affected by climate change andother environmental challenges, Minh said, adding that related countriesshould abide by international law and the 1995 Mekong Agreement to useshared water resources sustainably and fairly.
The countrieswelcomed and pledged to implement two projects proposed by Vietnamin 2012 relating to the management of groundwater and water during thedry season in the Mekong basin.
Dialogue partners and donorspledged to help Mekong countries improve infrastructure, strive forsustainable development, and especially raise the capacity of the MekongRiver Commission in the evaluation of environmental impacts and watermanagement.-VNA
