30 June 2017, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR – The Mekong River Commission (MRC) and its Development Partners (donor organisations), held their annual Development Partner Meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR, to discuss important issues of mutual concern on Mekong basin development and management.

This was the 15th such meeting since the first one held in 2003, and an important event in the MRC’s calendar, one which provided the opportunity for open exchanges aimed at strengthening cooperation and effective implementation of the MRC Strategic Plan 2016-2020 and its Annual Work Plan for 2017.

The discussions centred on the (i) Basin Development Strategy (BDS) implementation including through joint projects; (ii) the National Indicative Plans that outline national activities supporting the implementation of the BDS; (iii) progress of the MRC’s Council Study—a comprehensive undertaking that will provide reliable scientific environmental, social and economic impacts of water resources development in the Mekong River; and (iv) cooperation with partners and stakeholders.  

The Development Partners issued a statement that stressed the key role of the MRC in facilitating consensus on development projects with transboundary impacts along the Mekong river mainstream and its tributaries as well as providing impartial knowledge. The Development Partners further applauded the process and outcome of the Prior Consultation for the Pak Beng Hydropower Project, which concluded last week with an agreed Joint Statement by Member Countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam). The Development Partners encouraged the MRC to intensify cooperation with Myanmar and China as well as relevant regional forums and frameworks.

The MRC currently receives financial support from the following development partners: Australia, Belgium, the European Union, France, Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the World Bank.

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Download: Joint Development Partner Statement | Response to Joint Development Partner Statement

 

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