Laos pledges cooperation with MRC for responsible Mekong development

Laos has committed to full cooperation with the Mekong River Commission (MRC) in addressing challenges to sustainable development on the river and improving the overall state of the basin over the next decade.
 Speaking during a recent online meeting, Minster of Natural Resources and Environment Mrs Bounkham Vorachit told the CEO of the MRC Secretariat, An Pich Hatda, that Laos is fully committed to the principles and objectives of sustainable development through MRC cooperation.
Mr An Pich Hatda reported on the rollout of the new ten-year Basin Development Strategy for the Mekong River Basin, saying that a five-year Strategic Plan is well under way to enable the Mekong countries, including Laos, to address emerging challenges.
Acknowledging the CEO’s report that funding had mostly been secured to execute the Strategic Plan from 2021-2025, Mrs Bounkham stressed the importance of effective implementation and support for the four Member Countries, including through the MRC’s ongoing and planned support for flood and drought forecasting in Laos.
Mr Hatda said the MRC Secretariat had been working closely with related Lao ministries and the Lao National Mekong Committee Secretariat on a few key strategies that were pending MRC approval.
They include the Sustainable Hydropower Strategy, Preliminary Design Guidance 2020, and Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment.
The MRC looks forward to these strategies and guidance being approved, and the MRC Secretariat and Lao National Mekong Committee are working to ensure that key issues raised by Laos are addressed and resolved, Mr Hatda said.
Next year Laos is due to host the 4th MRC Summit and International Conference, which takes place every four years.
But in light of the Covid-19 pandemic Mr Hatda suggested that the meeting be held in April 2023. In response, Mrs Bounkham said she supported the proposal and would consult with other Member Countries.
The two partners also discussed the importance of reassuring other Member Countries of their concerns around the Sanakham hydropower project currently undergoing the MRC six-month prior consultation process, which began in May last year.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic and in order to ensure a meaningful public consultation, the six-month process has not yet been concluded.
In the meantime, Laos and the other Mekong nations support actions to address current and future challenges facing the Mekong River.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update June 9, 2021)