CONSULTATION MEETING MOVES FORWARD COOPERATION MECHANISM ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN MEKONG RIVER BASIN

Agricultural Development and Commercialization

May 2, 2019 — Water resource experts and key stakeholders from government agencies join today’s national consultation as part of Mekong Institute’s project on Transboundary Cooperation Mechanism on Adaptation to Climate Change and Hydropower Development Projects, an initiative supported by the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund.  

Organized in Bangkok and in collaboration with the Office of National Water Resources, Thailand, the consultation meeting kicks off a series of national consultations planned to be carried out in Thailand, Lao PDR and P.R. China as part of the project’s broad objective of enhancing transboundary cooperation mechanisms on water resource management and climate change adaptation in the Mekong River Basin.

The importance of data and information exchange on water resources, including hydrological and hydrogeological data, has been underscored in the 1997 Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses. The increasing risks and threats of climate change further emphasize effective data sharing mechanisms among countries in river basins such as the Mekong. Interventions at the national level have been especially pointed out to help strengthen the effectiveness of regional sharing and exchange mechanisms.

The national consultation takes stock of the three countries’ situation and identifies gaps in operationalizing regional data and information sharing and exchange. In his welcome remarks, Mr. Pradab Kladkempetch, Assistant Secretary General of the National Water Resources, Thailand, acknowledged that Thailand’s public sector has been receiving useful information and proposals as a result of activities carried out under the project since November last year. These, he said, can help concerned agencies address cross-border issues concerning water resource management of the Mekong-Lancang River. He also hopes that the national consultation and subsequent undertakings of the project can yield relevant recommendations for member countries in the region.

It can be recalled that the Project had carried out scoping visits in the three countries in previous months, as well as interviews with national experts and desk reviews. Results and findings of these initial activities are for presentation in these national consultation meetings.

Following consultation meetings in Lao PDR and P.R China, a regional consultation is set for June 2019.

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.