Binh Duong (VNA) – Cooperationamong six countries that share the Mekong – Lancang River should focus on watermanagement for mutual benefit and sustainable growth in the region, said Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

He made the statement atthe second Mekong-Lancang Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia, onDecember 22 – 23.

Minh stressed that theMekong-Lancang cooperation mechanism should promote regional connectivity andsupport member countries in conducting major infrastructure projects.

The development oftransnational trade corridors and improvement of capacity in executingtrade-commerce policies are other priorities, he added.

He pointed to the necessityof having an agriculture sector that is sustainable, competitive and climate-changeresilient.

Minh listed a number ofmeasures to achieve the green farming industry that include supporting theapplication of advanced technologies and forming a value chain in the region.

The diplomat stated thatmutual benefit and effective coordination are key to successful outcomes of thepartnership.

Minh proposed installing a hotlineamong involved nations for emergencies, such as sudden water discharges, waterpollution and drought.

He also suggested theestablishment of an ad hoc group to study measures boosting joint projectsbetween the Mekong – Lancang Cooperation bloc and the Mekong River Commission(MRC) and requirements to include China and Myanmar as MRC members.

During their secondmeeting, participants from the six Mekong countries – China, Cambodia, Myanmar,Laos, Thailand and Vietnam – discussed progress made in their affiliationsafter the first meeting in China last year and mapped out future jointprojects.

They took note ofachievements obtained by the partnership so far, including forming cooperationmechanism and agenda with three pillars (security-politics, trade – sustainablegrowth and social culture – people-to-people exchange) and five priorities (watersource, production capacity, trans-border trade, agriculture and povertyalleviation).

They said their joint workhas been enhanced through the establishment of specialised working groups.

As a result, a number of earlyharvest projects (implemented within short timeline) have been completed, suchas those on personnel exchange, women’s forum and tourism forum.

Participating ministersagreed to design a 5-year action plan and launch a special Mekong – Lancangfund, to which China donated 300 million USD, to support collaboration amongmember states.

They agreed to set up a Mekong– Lancang coordination agency of each member, speed up the implementation ofapproved early harvest programmes, and devise new projects of this type.

The meeting was concluded,with the foreign ministers issuing a joint press release, a report on theimplementation of early harvest programmes, and a set of regulations on theestablishment of the special ad hoc group.

The next meeting is slatedfor 2017 in China.

The Mekong River Commissionconsist of four downstream Mekong countries that are Laos, Cambodia, Vietnamand Thailand.-VNA