On December 7, 2021, the second Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum with the theme of "Joining Hands to Face Challenges and Promote Common Prosperity" opened. Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology of Cambodia Lin Jianhe, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Laos, Benkan Voraj, Minister of Transport and Communications of Myanmar Ding Aung San, Director of Thailand National Water Resources Office Kiti Mondon Surasri, Vietnam Natural Resources Attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches with Chen Honghe, Minister of the Environment, and Liu Zhenmin, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Tian Xuebin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Water Resources presided over. The forum is held in video format.

Li Guoying pointed out that President Xi Jinping presided over the 30th anniversary of the China-ASEAN dialogue relationship and delivered an important speech, announcing the establishment of a China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, which pointed out the direction and provided new impetus for the further deepening of the Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation. The six Lancang-Mekong countries drink one river together, are as close as a family, and have unique conditions to go hand in hand and deepen cooperation. In the five years since the establishment of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism, the water conservancy departments of the six countries have actively implemented the leaders’ consensus, thinking in one heart and moving forward in one direction, strengthened policy dialogue and technical exchanges, accelerated the process of information sharing in the river basin, and improved flood control and drought response capabilities. The benefits of the people's livelihood security project have promoted the Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation into the fast lane, and improved the livelihood and well-being of the countries in the basin.

Li Guoying pointed out that it is a common issue faced by the six Lancang-Mekong countries to promote the deepening of the Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation, to properly respond to various risks and challenges, and to provide strong water security guarantees for regional sustainable development and common prosperity. The Ministry of Water Resources of China will actively implement the concept of friendship, sincerity and inclusiveness, adhere to the principle of benevolence and companionship with neighbors, and work with Lancang-Mekong countries to broaden cooperation fields, deepen cooperation content, improve cooperation level, and promote Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation. New height.

Four cooperation proposals

Li Guoying made four suggestions for further strengthening the Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation: First, stick to the original intention of cooperation and promote the realization of regional green and sustainable development. Coordinate and handle the relationship between economic development and ecological protection, implement more water conservancy projects to benefit the people, and bring tangible benefits to the people of Lancang-Mekong countries. The second is to carry forward the Lancang-Mekong spirit and jointly build a closer community with a shared future. Always adhere to the principle of discussing matters, taking care of each other's major concerns, and strive to find the greatest common divisor and draw the largest concentric circle. The third is to focus on a common vision and work together to promote the quality and upgrade of the Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation. Give full play to the role of the ministerial conference, strengthen coordination and collaboration under the framework of the joint working group, and strive to build an internationally influential cooperation and exchange platform. The fourth is to build a smart river basin and jointly build a high-quality Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation information and knowledge sharing platform. Jointly design the content of the platform construction, work together to carry out the follow-up construction of the platform, and jointly build a smart water conservancy system in the Lancang-Mekong basin.

The ministers of the water conservancy authorities of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam spoke highly of China’s efforts to overcome the impact of the epidemic and held this forum. They thanked China for the relevant hydrological information and the implementation of cooperation projects on people’s livelihoods. Resource management played an important role. All parties reviewed the positive results of the Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation over the past five years, analyzed the severe challenges faced by regional water resources, and put forward hopes and suggestions on deepening the Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation. All parties stated that they will further strengthen policy dialogue, technical exchanges, and project cooperation, and join hands to contribute wisdom and strength to the sustainable development of the regional economy and society.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin said that the Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation is a model of regional water resources cooperation, and it is expected that the six countries will make positive contributions to the realization of the water goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This forum is an important action to implement the consensus of the third leaders' meeting of Lancang-Mekong cooperation, and it is also one of the series of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the launch of Lancang-Mekong cooperation. The forum is hosted by the Ministry of Water Resources of China. During the two-day period, the forum will focus on water resources protection and green development, integrated water resources management and response to climate change, water conservancy and people’s livelihood improvement in rural areas, sustainable hydropower development and energy security, cross-border river cooperation and information sharing and Six topics including water governance and youth missions in Lancang-Mekong countries are fully communicated and exchanged, and experience is fully shared. The forum will also release the "Beijing Initiative of the Second Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum". Editor/He Yuting