Langcang-Mekong countries stay committed to cooperation

The six countries in the Langcang-Mekong Region vowed to further enhance water resource cooperation in a video conference during the 2020 LMC (Lancang-Mekong Cooperation) Week activity that began on Monday.

"At present, the novel coronavirus is spreading globally, and all countries in the world are fighting the pandemic. The epidemic has once again demonstrated mankind is a community with a shared future that shares weal and woe," said Yu Xingjun, head of the Joint Working Group on Water Resources Cooperation of LMC from China, during the conference.

"Only by standing together and coming to each others' help to address risks and challenges can we build a beautiful homeland on the earth," he continued. "Our six countries with a shared river and shared future can't delay on this anymore. The water resource issues in the Langcang-Mekong Region should also be jointly addressed by our six countries."

This year marks the fourth anniversary of the establishment of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism. The conference also launched videos on Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation, which Yu said enables all walks of life to better understand and support Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation.

"I also hope all the representatives here will continue to attach importance to and support the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation, jointly promote our cooperation to a new level and make new contributions to the improvement of water governance and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind among the Lancang-Mekong countries," he said.

Klok Sam Ang, head of the joint working group from Cambodia, reiterated the Cambodian side's firm determination in working together with all riparian countries to effectively and substantially implement the 2020 LMC Week Activity for the countries' common and mutual benefit, both now and in the future.

"We encourage all LMC countries to work together in strong cooperation for common benefit on sustainable development and motivation of the Mekong water issue, and look forward to significant work progress and achievement to be made from the joint-level LMC for sustainable development," he said.

Le Duc Trung, head of the joint working group from Vietnam, said he is looking forward to joint activities on a number of projects, including data information exchange and joint research.

"And of course we will address and respond to emergency cases like what we already faced in 2016 and for this dry season, 2020."

"So, good luck and congratulations for our achievements, and we are looking forward to further cooperation," he said.