Mekong Institute (MI), in cooperation with the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) through the support of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, is implementing a project that endeavors to strengthen cooperation on hydropower projects and mitigation of associated climate change impacts concerning the six Mekong-Lancang countries, namely Cambodia, P.R. China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Titled ‘Transboundary Cooperation Mechanism on Adaptation to Climate Change and Hydropower Development Projects,’ the project was officially launched through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Signing Ceremony held in Bangkok on October 11, 2018.
At the signing ceremony, Dr. Wijarn Simachaya, Permanent Secretary of MoNRE, remarked: “Sharing the same origin, the Mekong and Lancang are an asset to our region. Therefore, water resource management plays a significant role in promoting sustainable development.”
The one-year project seeks to establish an information-sharing platform that will bring together relevant stakeholders and experts from China and the Mekong countries to broaden and enhance their mechanisms for communication and knowledge exchange, particularly on the analysis and design of technical solutions to better manage and operate water storage structures. Ultimately, it aims to increase public awareness on climate change mitigation as well as impart long-term opportunities and benefits especially for the communities in the hydropower project sites.
In line with this, H.E. Mr. Lyu Jian, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Thailand, emphasized the significance of information exchange: “China attaches great importance on water resources cooperation in Mekong countries and has been providing flood season hydrological data of the Lancang River over the past 16 years… This serves as a useful reference for flood control during the rainy season in downstream countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam.”
Concluding on a positive note, he further added: “Today, the signing of the MoU marks another milestone in Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation. The Chinese side stands ready to work with the Thai side to make the project relevant in information-sharing and trust-building. We also believe that Mekong Institute will implement the special-funded projects in a professional manner, as it always does.”
Dr. Watcharas Leelawath, MI Executive Director, expressed: “MI commits to working closely together with the relevant agencies to ensure the effective delivery of tangible outcomes that will mutually benefit all countries.”
The project is supported by the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Special Fund and to be overseen by the Department of Water Resources, MoNRE, with Mekong Institute as implementing agency.
For more information about the project, please contact:
Ms. Jutamas Thongcharoen
Program Manager, Agricultural Development and Commercialization Department
Mekong Institute, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 43 202 268 ext. 3102
Email: [email protected]
