The Mekong Institute plays host to the Training Workshop on Transboundary Water Conflict Management and International Water Governance. The Opening Ceremony was held on June 3, 2009 where twenty three participants from the lower Mekong countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam were present together with resource persons from UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, the Compass Foundation, UNESCO-PCCP and the Regional Flood Management and Mitigation Centre of the Mekong River Commission. Dr. Lna Salam, PC-CP Coordinator from the UNESCO Division of Water Sciences welcomed the participants and introduced Dr. Suchat Katima, Director of the Mekong Institute to give his welcome address. This was followed by the opening remarks from Mr. Nicolas Bakker, Chief Technical Advisor of the Regional Flood Management and Mitigation Centre of the Mekong River Commission. 

In his opening remarks, Mr. Bakker appreciated the cooperation between MRC and the MI. He mentioned that MI is a very adequate environment for the workshop and symbolizes the cooperation between the two organizations as well as strengthens the objectives of both organizations in terms of fostering and enhancing regional cooperation between the member countries in support of sustainable development. 

The workshop has the following objectives: (1) for participants to be able to analyse and apply the principles of international law and treaties relevant for the Mekong context, (b) for participants to identify, analyse and understand issues, differences and disputes related to floods and flood management and (3) for participants to select and apply appropriate approaches and techniques that can address, mitigate and resolve issues, differences and disputes. The MRC group will be at MI until 10 June 2009.