(KPL) A meeting was held in Vientiane on Mar 14 to discuss preparations for the 4th Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit and related meetings to be held in the capital city on Apr 2-5.

Chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, the meeting was attended by representatives of relevant offices.

“Our Ministry will be the chairman of the National MRC and vice chairman of the steering committee that will report the progress made in preparing for the 4th MRC Summit. Recently the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has appointed 9 sub-committees to prepare for the meeting,” said Minister of Natural Resources and Environment BounkhamVorachit.

“The Summit is our highest-level event and demonstrates the strongest political commitment of our leaders to Mekong cooperation under the MRC framework. Meanwhile, the international symposium will be our international event, designed to bring in international expertise and experience to inform solutions and actions in the Mekong. It is also an opportunity for us to promote MRC expertise and experience to the rest of the world.

The theme “Innovation and Cooperation for a Water Secure and Sustainable Mekong” could not be more timely or relevant. The Mekong is undergoing tremendous transformations, with great challenges in terms of changing flow regime, degrading environmental assets, increasing population and water use, and flood and drought. There are also significant opportunities to make development more optimal and sustainable, preserve key wetlands, watersheds and floodplains, and increase the resilience of our countries and communities. There is no better way to do this than to innovate – in policy, technology and approach – and bring together traditional and new coalitions to cooperate to address the challenges and capture the opportunities.

Source: Lao News Agency