Since the launch of its official website for the 3rd Summit and International Conference, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) has so far seen a high number of registrations.
The Summit, to be held on 5 April 2018 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, will bring together the Prime Ministers of the member countries namely Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam as well as high-level delegations from MRC Dialogue Partners, China and Myanmar, to address the prevailing challenges and optimizing opportunities facing the Mekong River and its people.
The Summit aims to strengthen cooperation and understanding under the slogan ‘One Mekong, One Spirit.’
Before the Summit, a major International Conference will be held on 2-3 April.
“The Conference will provide an opportunity for the Mekong stakeholders from NGOs, academia, the private sector, and other river basin organizations in the region and around the world to exchange perspectives, best practice, and cutting-edge ideas which will be delivered to the Summit of leaders,” said Anoulak Kittikhoun, MRC’s Chief Strategist and spokesperson.
To maintain the spirit of open dialogue, the MRC is calling for papers and presentations from international and regional partners and stakeholders.
The Mekong River Commission was established with the signing of the Mekong Agreement in 1995 to manage the Mekong River basin in a sustainable and equitable manner through dialogue and cooperation. It is a treaty-based inter-governmental body, with over 60 years of Mekong cooperation history, that serves as a unique platform for water diplomacy through basin-wide strategies, procedures, guidelines and extensive knowledge base for sound decision making. Its uniqueness also lies in its long history of openness, stakeholder engagement and partnerships from around the world.
The 3rd MRC Summit therefore will focus on the theme of ‘Joint Efforts and Partnerships to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the Mekong River Basin.’
