At the plenary meeting (Source: VNA)Dak Nong (VNA) – The Vietnam Mekong RiverCommission (VMRC) held its second plenary meeting in 2019 in the CentralHighlands province of Dak Nong on December 3.
The meeting heard experts’ reports on water use strategies of Thailand andother regional countries, and the consultation processfor the Luang Prabang hydropower project of Laos, and development of hydropower plants in theMekong River’s mainstream.
Participants underlined the role of VMRC, especially in setting directions for addressing MekongRiver-related issues. They pointed out negative impacts on socio-economicdevelopment in the Mekong River’s mainstream.
Addressing the event, Deputy Ministerof Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh affirmed that the VMRC willpromptly provide warnings about trends, climate and weather conditionsaffecting the Mekong River system, to relevant provinces and cities. Thecommission will also expand external relations and consultations with other countriesto minimize impacts on the Mekong River.
Thanh said Vietnamese localities in the Mekong River area should focuson sustainable development and switch to renewable energy. He called forbuilding a master plan on erosion to roll out more effective solutions for theproblem.
In 2019, the VMRC participated in theconsultation process on a master plan for economic development of the MekongDelta region, and contributed opinions to water resources plans and relevant investmentprojects.
It also completed the negotiation to build an agreement on regulations on waterusage along the Vietnam - Cambodia border in accordance with the Minutes of theVietnam - Cambodia Joint Committee Meeting.
In addition, the commission established a number of expert groups, mobilizingthe extensive participation of all stakeholders in domestic and internationalactivities.
In 2020, the commission will continue to monitor the exploitation anduse of water resources and other natural resources in the Mekong basin.
It will closely coordinate with relevant agencies in proposing mechanisms to strengthencooperation with member countries of the Mekong River Commission (MRC), and mechanisms of sharing cross-border water resources toensure water security in the Mekong River basin and the Mekong Delta./.
VNA
