Mrs Bounkham Vorachit delivers a speech to open the 4th MRC international conference at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane on Sunday, prior to the MRC Summit on April 5.

MRC international conference kicks off in Laos

An international conference designed to discuss the current state of Mekong health and what needs to be done to strengthen regional cooperation for sustainable development of the mighty river began in Vientiane on Sunday.
On behalf of the Lao government which is hosting the conference, the Mayor of Vientiane, Dr Atsaphangthong Siphandone, and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mrs Bounkham Vorachit, welcomed guests and opened the 4th MRC International Conference taking place at the National Convention Centre.
Nearly 800 water experts, policy makers, academics, representatives of civil society and private sectors around the world attended the conference as an event leading to the 4th MRC Summit, which is scheduled to take place on April 5.
Lao Prime Minister, Dr Sonexay Siphandone alongside with leaders from the lower Mekong countries of Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand are expected to attend the MRC summit to renew their commitment to the MRC mandate, and endorse the Vientiane Declaration. High level representatives from the MRC’s dialogue partners of China and Myanmar have also been invited to the convention.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 4th MRC international conference on Sunday, Dr Atsaphangthong said “On behalf of the Vientiane Administration, I am very proud and honoured to address the opening ceremony of the MRC international conference today. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of you, delegates from MRC member countries, national, regional and international experts, researchers and media to Vientiane.”
The theme of the conference is “Innovation and Cooperation for a Water Secure and Sustainable Mekong”, with this agenda designed to advance the MRC vision for 2030. “To advance the Mekong agenda and vision for “an economically prosperous, socially just and environmentally sound Mekong River Basin” and the 2030 global agenda “Sustainable Development Goals”, innovative policies, technologies and cooperation pathways are significant for more efficient and effective processes of knowledge and information sharing and water resources management cooperation in the Mekong Basin,” Mrs Bounkham said.
She stressed the fact that water security has been in the spotlight as a key factor for sustainable development.
“The challenge of water security is increasingly impacting every region around the world that is facing the effects of climate change and urbanisation, as well as natural disasters. This situation is projected to worsen if we continue business as usual,” Mrs Bounkham said. Water resources management issues must be addressed at the local, national and at appropriate regional and international levels. All stakeholders, including those in government, international organisations, the private sector, civil society and academia, should be engaged, paying special attention to the livelihoods of the poor and most vulnerable people, she added.
“Our region is undergoing rapid changes and transformation, so we need to work together more strongly. We need more joint actions with all relevant stakeholders through innovative technologies that can help us transform regional water management, improve data and information sharing, and boost our technology monitoring systems,” she said. “Such innovative cooperation mechanisms will enable us to achieve our common goals and objectives in managing and developing the Mekong River Basin sustainably, as well as in avoiding, minimising and mitigating potential impacts, especially on vulnerable river communities.”

By Times reporters
 (Latest Update April 3, 2023)