Minister Do Duc Duy visited and worked at the Secretariat of the Mekong River Commission

Attending the meeting were leaders of the Standing Office of the Viet Nam Mekong River Commission, the General Department of Hydrometeorology, the Departments of Climate Change, the Departments of Water Resources Management, the Departments of Environmental Pollution Control, the Departments of International Cooperation and the Departments of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun, Executive Director of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat, chaired the meeting with Minister Do Duc Duy and the Vietnamese delegation.

At the meeting, Minister Do Duc Duy highly appreciated the role of the Mekong River Commission (the Commission) in implementing the 1995 Mekong Agreement, contributing to ensuring water security and sustainable development for countries in the basin; acknowledged and appreciated the efforts of the Commission Secretariat in providing technical support and organizing the implementation of the Commission's activities; and performing well the role of a reliable technical advisory body, promoting cooperation among countries in the basin.

At the meeting, the Executive Director of the Secretariat reported on the activities of the Commission in implementing the 1995 Agreement on Cooperation for Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin; Implementing the set of Procedures for using Mekong River water, including: Procedures for exchanging and sharing information and data; Procedures for maintaining flows on the mainstream; Water quality procedures; Procedures for notification, prior consultation and agreement; Procedures for monitoring water use, and Guidelines for assessing transboundary environmental impacts...; Implementing the Joint Statements of the Mekong River Commission Summit, the Basin Development Strategy, and the Commission's Strategic Plan; Implementing the Mekong River monitoring network on hydrometeorology, sediment, fisheries, aquatic ecosystems and water quality, monitoring water resources and the environment; The Secretariat continues to improve the quality of services on forecasting and warning of natural disasters to provide timely information to riparian countries; cooperation with the two upstream countries, China and Myanmar, in sharing meteorological and hydrological data and hydropower projects on the Lancang River and cooperation and support activities of development partners for the Commission.

At the meeting, Minister Do Duc Duy highly appreciated the achievements of the Mekong River Commission and the efforts of the Commission Secretariat in promoting activities to effectively implement the 1995 Mekong Agreement. The Minister suggested that the Commission should focus on capacity building activities, improving tools and models for forecasting floods, droughts and extreme weather; strengthening connections and information sharing with national forecasting centers; studying and developing a coordination mechanism in the operation of water exploitation works, especially reservoirs, to contribute to preventing and mitigating natural disaster risks in the basin; continuing to mobilize partners to support the strengthening of the monitoring and supervision network on hydrometeorology, alluvium - sand, fisheries and ecological environment, to monitor changes in the basin and support the assessment of the impact of development projects; support the promotion of the sharing of complete and timely information and data among countries, especially on the operation of hydropower projects in the basin; continue to conduct further research on the renewable energy potential in the Mekong River basin and make recommendations to countries on clean and sustainable energy solutions; coordinate with member countries to strengthen cooperation with upstream countries to ensure the enhancement of integrated management throughout the Mekong-Lancang River basin; continue to call for assistance from development partners and international organizations for the activities of the Commission; and at the same time, enhance community participation in the activities of the international Mekong River Commission.

 Minister Do Duc Duy also affirmed Vietnam's commitment to coordinate with other member countries of the Commission and the Commission Secretariat to effectively implement the Commission's strategic activities, towards achieving the goals of sustainable development of the Mekong River basin and ensuring water security for the countries along the Mekong River.The Executive Director of the Secretariat, Mr. Anoulak Kittikhoun, expressed his honor to welcome Minister Do Duc Duy and members of the Vietnamese delegation to the Commission Secretariat, highly appreciating the visit, demonstrating the Minister's special interest in Mekong cooperation. Mr. Anoulak sincerely thanked the Minister for his profound instructions and pledged that the Commission Secretariat will closely coordinate with the National Mekong Committees to promote the activities of the Commission, as the Minister emphasized, ensuring the effective implementation of the 1995 Mekong Agreement, bringing practical benefits to people across the basin.