For the stability and sustainable development of the Mekong River basin

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) is an important regional forum for promoting peaceful and mutually beneficial cooperation for the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin. With four member countries, Cambodia , Lao PDR , Thailand and Vietnam, the MRC is the oldest Mekong cooperation mechanism and the only mechanism operating based on an international agreement (the 1995 Mekong Agreement) to provide a framework for cooperation for the sustainable development, use, protection and management of the region's water and related resources.

The MRC Summit (HNCC) has been held since 2010, on a four-year rotation mechanism in member countries. With the theme "Innovation and cooperation to ensure water security and sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin", this MRC Summit in Vientiane took place in the context that although many important achievements have been achieved contributing to promoting cooperation in the Mekong River Basin such as building regulations on water use, environmental management, fisheries, waterway transport connectivity, expanding cooperation with partners in and outside the region..., the MRC is facing significant challenges from the negative impacts of climate change, environmental pollution to unsustainable exploitation and use of water resources and related resources in the basin, strategic competition between major powers...

This reality requires the MRC to strengthen its role, improve operational efficiency and cooperation, and attract more attention and support from international and regional organizations, dialogue partners, development partners and the donor community for the goal of ensuring stability and sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin.

As a country in the lower Mekong River, Vietnam is always aware of the importance of the Mekong region as its direct “security and development space”. Therefore, Vietnam always demonstrates the role of a very active, proactive and responsible member country in participating in MRC activities at all levels, from senior level to ministerial level, joint committee, working group... in building and implementing legal documents, MRC strategies, or sharing information, data, contributing experts and techniques...

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's attendance at the 4th MRC Summit aims to actively implement the foreign policy and guidelines set forth by the 13th National Party Congress on "continuing to promote and improve the effectiveness of foreign affairs and international integration", while demonstrating Vietnam's responsibility, interest and commitment at a high level to cooperation within the MRC framework in the spirit of the 1995 Mekong Agreement, thereby contributing to strengthening the role of the MRC as well as solidarity and cooperation among member countries for common interests.

It is also important to emphasize that Vietnam attended the 4th MRC Summit when the country was increasingly integrating deeply into the international community, the socio-political situation was stable, national defense and security were ensured, and the economy was growing strongly (reaching 8.02% in 2022).

With enhanced position and strength, together with the experience of development and international integration accumulated over the years, we firmly believe that Vietnam will have better conditions to participate in MRC cooperation in general as well as contribute to the overall success of the 4th MRC Summit in particular, thereby contributing to effectively responding to challenges to the stability and sustainable development of the Mekong River basin, so that the river will forever be a natural source of connection to life, cultural exchange and prosperity of millions of people as it has always been.

People's Army

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