Laos prepares to host MRC Summit in April

Laos will host the 4th Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit and International Conference in Vientiane from April 2-5.
The meeting is the Commission’s highest-level political event to discuss topics related to the latest knowledge and innovative solutions for the preservation of the Mekong River.

Mr Saleumxay Kommasith.

The Mekong River Commission is an intergovernmental organisation that works with the governments of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to manage the shared water and related resources of the Mekong River for the sustainable development of the Mekong region.
The Commission was founded under the Mekong Agreement of 1995, building on previous regional cooperation through the Mekong Committee established in 1957.
Reporting on preparations for the Summit, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mrs Bounkham Vorachit, informed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, that the ministry has appointed nine sub-committees to carry out specific areas of work.
To date, a draft statement of the 4th MRC Summit has been drawn up through meetings with member countries, while the draft of the Summit’s 6th statement is under consideration.
In addition, a draft of the administrative handbook has been completed, along with a meeting attendance handbook, and the handbook of the Lao Prime Minister.
Other areas of work concerning the Summit are expected to be complete before the start of the meeting.
According to the Mekong River Commission, the Summit is the body’s highest-level event and signifies the strongest political commitment of leaders to Mekong cooperation under the MRC framework.
It gathers the heads of governments of member countries and political leaders from Dialogue Partners and development partners to review Mekong cooperation and provide strategic directions.
Attached to the Summit is the MRC International Conference, which attracts global and regional experts in the fields of water and related resources, energy, food, transport, transboundary rivers, river basin management, governance and development to present and discuss the latest knowledge and innovative solutions around issues facing the Mekong and other river basins.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update March 16, 2023)