Vietnam committed to sustainable use of Mekong River resources

Vietnam attaches great importance to cooperation within the Mekong River basin and takes an active, responsible and constructive part in all activities of the Mekong River Commission (MRC), said Mr Dung at a MRC summit in Hua Hin, Thailand, on April 5. The event was also attended by the Prime Ministers of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

Mr Dung acknowledged the 1995 agreement to establish the MRC provided a strategic vision and basic principles for the equitable and proper use of water and other resources in the Mekong River basin. It also identified the specific areas of cooperation and regulations concerning common development activities in the region.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung addressing the first MRC summit in Thailand

Over the past 15 years, he said, the agreement has testified to the common trend of cooperation among nations living in the basin and has received positive support from the international community.

The PM said the Mekong River basin now faces numerous challenges. The rapid and dynamic development of the basin is mounting pressure on natural resources, including water, along with the unforeseeable impact of climate change and environmental pollution.

He welcomed the vision and priority orientations set in the joint statement of the summit, which look to sustainable development in the Mekong River basin. He stressed the need to better manage water resources and draft scenarios on climate change for the basin to work out a common plan of action for the four countries. He urged them to finalise legal frameworks and provide a specific coordination mechanism for implementing agreements on the use of water and increasing the quality of water while enhancing the commission’s capacity building in terms of staff, organisation and equipment.

He welcomed China’s recent decision to provide hydro-meteorological statistics during the dry season to help regional countries come up with more accurate assessments of water flows in the river. He expressed his hope that China and Myanmar – the two dialogue partners of the MRC – would consider joining the commission to work together with other regional countries to use water in the river in a sustainable and responsible manner for the sake of common prosperity.

Vietnam hopes to continue to receive financial and technical assistance to carry out priority activities set in the joint statement of the summit and the Mekong River basin development strategy for the 2011-2015 period, said Mr Dung. 

He said the Mekong River plays an important role in Vietnam’s socio-economic development, as the Mekong River Delta is the country’s largest rice granary and produces other main farm produce and seafood, helping ensure food security for not only Vietnam but also other countries in the region and the world.

He pointed out the fact that Vietnam, especially the Mekong River Delta, has faced a prolonged drought and severe salt intrusion, having a substantial impact on farming and the lives of millions of farmers.

Vietnam will work closely with other countries to realise the vision of the summit and fully implement the MRC agreement to boost cooperation with strategic partners so as to build a river of solidarity, friendship, cooperation, development and integration, he said.

The Prime Ministers of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia all showed their strong commitments to boosting cooperation and sustainable development, effectively using, protecting and managing water and other resources in the Mekong River basin. They agreed with the Hua Hin statement which looks at the achievements, opportunities and challenges as well as visions of the MRC in expanding cooperation between the commission and its international dialogue partners.

To address urgent challenges in the basin, the four leaders pledged to promote cooperation to minimise human and property losses caused by floods, consider the sustainability of hydro-power development and effectively manage water resources for agricultural development. They said it is necessary to adopt measures against climate change to reduce risks of hunger, poverty and food security imbalance within vulnerable communities, manage the degradation of water quality, preserve rare species of aquatic resources in the basin and minimise the risks in developing waterway transport in the region.

They all expressed their hope that the commission will ratify and implement the basin development strategy based on the proper management of water resources, and intensify efforts to protect residents from the risks of floods, droughts and rising sea levels, including the establishment of forecast and early warning systems in the whole basin.

They proposed that the commission support an international legal framework to encourage trade and waterway transport, study and deal with threats to the livelihood of local residents due to climate change, supervise and employ measures to improve the quality of water in priority areas of the basin, and efficiently use water and other resources, wetlands and forests in the basin in a sustainable manner.