MRC Council approves plans for sustainable development
 
The Mekong River Commission’s MRC Council has approved important documents including rules of procedure for the MRC Council and the joint committee, and a sustainable hydropower development strategy for the lower Mekong Basin.
More than 140 representatives from the MRC member countries (Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam), members of the MRC Council and development partners discussed and approved the documents at the 28th MRC Council Meeting and Joint Meeting of the 26th Development Partners Consultative Group, which took place in Bangkok last week. The meeting also reviewed the implementation of work under MRC cooperation, gave directions for the MRC’s future work plans, and discussed

with MRC development partners future cooperation plans and other work related to the sustainable development of the Mekong Basin.
The meeting took place through a video link and was attended by Laos’ Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Mrs Bounkham Vorachit and her delegation. The meeting also endorsed Dr Anoulak Kittikhoun from Laos as the 3rd Riparian Chief Executive Officer of the MRC Secretariat.
Dr Anoulak was selected as the MRC CEO following open recruitment and will hold the position from January 2022 to 2024. In addition, the meeting took note of reports on progress made to date and a review of past implementation, and discussed the direction of the future work plans put forward by the MRC Secretariat.
Meeting participants also asked development partners to consider continuing providing additional information to the MRC Secretariat. The meeting asked the MRC Secretariat to foster the implementation of the activities approved in the MRC Multi-Year Work Plan for 2021-2022, to ensure it is successful and highly effective.
Mrs Bounkham said the Lao government prioritises sustainable development in the Mekong River Basin and aims to tackle climate change by integrating the work of the MRC into the 9th five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2021-2025 and the five-year plan of the natural resources and environment sector for sustainable water resources management.
She affirmed cooperation with MRC member countries, development partners, dialogue partners and other international organisations to implement the 1995 Mekong Agreement. In particular, this will involve cooperation in the fields of water management and water-related resources, to enhance sustainable development in the Mekong River Basin.

By Times Reporters
  (Latest Update November 30, 2021)