An International Conference on the Mekong River Commission (MRC) opened in Hanoi on April 24, drawing the participation of regional ministers and International donors and organisations.
The conference was co-chaired by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Cao Duc Phat, and Danish Minister for Cooperation and Development, Ulla Tornaec.
The conference aims to strengthen the MRC’s position and role as an organisation operating in the Mekong River basin region, and to promote cooperation among member countries, development banks and donors.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung spoke highly of Demark and the Vietnam Mekong River Commission’s initiative in co-organising the event.
The conference provided a good opportunity for MRC member countries, donors, partners and the International community to exchange views on cooperation in using and sustainably developing water resources and other natural resources in the Mekong River basin, with the MRC playing a key role in helping member countries successfully implement the Agreement on Cooperation for Sustainable Development in the Mekong River Basin, signed in 1995.
Vietnam and regional countries are currently facing severe droughts this dry season. Therefore, this issue can be only resolved through cooperation on a regional scale.
Deputy PM Nguyen Sinh Hung highly valued the role of MRC in developing border co-operation programmes. The Vietnamese Government always strictly implemented signed agreements and showed strong determination on fully co-operating with other MRC members and implementing the 1995 Mekong Agreement as well as other MRC programmes in order to ensure that more than 60 million people along the Mekong basin live in prosperity and a sustainable environment.
Minister Tornaec said that in 2007, Demark will fund US$530,000 to help the organization improve its capacity. Currently, Demark is the biggest donor for the MRC with more than US$40 million so far. In December 2006, Demark provided the organization with US$9 million in non-refundable aid, including US$7.5 million for the Mekong Development Programme in the second phase and US$1.5 million for the environment programme. It also donated US$700,000 to the Flood Management and Mitigation Programme (FMMP).
The Mekong River Commission comprises four members: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The four countries signed the Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin and agreed on joint management of their shared water resources and development of the economic potential of the river. In the past 10 years, MRC has gained significant results in tapping the river’s potential. |
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