Minister Do Duc Duy in a working session with the leadership of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRC) in Vientiane, Laos

Accompanying Minister Do Duc Duy were Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan, Director General of the International Cooperation Department; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Linh, Chief of the Standing Office of the Vietnam Mekong River Commission; Mr. Phan Tuan Hung, Director General of the Department of Legal Affairs; Mr. Tang The Cuong, Director General of the Department of Climate Change; Mr. Chau Tran Vinh, Director General of the Department of Water Resources Management; Mr. Hoang Van Thuc, Director General of the Pollution Control Department; Ms. Dang Thanh Mai, Deputy Director General of the Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration; Mr. Truong Hong Tien, Deputy Chief of the Standing Office of the Vietnam Mekong River Commission; Mr. Vu The Hung, Secretary to the Minister; and other specialized staff.

Welcoming the delegation was Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the MRC Secretariat, and his colleagues.

At the working session, Minister Do Duc Duy expressed his pleasure at visiting and working with the MRC Secretariat in Vientiane, Laos, on the occasion of accompanying the Vietnamese Prime Minister to the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits.

Minister Do Duc Duy at the meeting

Minister Do Duc Duy emphasized the MRC's important role in implementing the 1995 Mekong Agreement, contributing to ensuring water security and sustainable development for the countries in the Mekong River Basin. He acknowledged and appreciated the Secretariat's efforts in providing technical support and organizing MRC activities. The Secretariat has performed well as a reliable technical advisory body, helping resolve differences and promoting cooperation among countries in the basin.

Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun warmly welcomed the Vietnamese delegation and expressed his desire to discuss common issues with Minister Đỗ Đức Duy to find flexible solutions, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin countries.

Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun

Both Minister Do Duc Duy and Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun agreed that climate change is becoming increasingly severe, extreme, and unpredictable, affecting the water security of many countries in the region. Therefore, in the coming period, the MRC should continue to support countries in the sustainable and equitable use of water resources, contributing to the region's stability and common development.

Discussing the capacity for forecasting, early warning, and disaster risk response, Minister Do Duc Duy mentioned that typhoon Yagi recently caused damage in several countries, including MRC member nations such as Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Despite the highest efforts from these nations, the forecasting work still lacked reliability, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced cooperation to strengthen forecasting and early warning capacities.

The delegation from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment at the meeting

The Minister proposed that the Secretariat implement projects to improve disaster forecasting and warning capacities for member states, enhance connections and information sharing with national forecasting centers, and study and develop mechanisms for coordinating the operation of water resource infrastructures, particularly reservoirs, to help mitigate disaster risks in the basin.

Regarding strengthening the water resource monitoring system and information sharing, Minister Do Duc Duy and Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun affirmed that an important factor in improving forecast quality is water resource monitoring data. Therefore, both sides agreed to ask the Secretariat to continue mobilizing partners to support the enhancement of monitoring networks for hydrology, sediment, fisheries, and the ecological environment, to track changes in the basin, assess the impacts of development projects, and promote information exchange and data sharing among countries, particularly on the operation of hydropower projects in the basin.

In talks with Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun, Minister Do Duc Duy emphasized that as a downstream nation, Vietnam is particularly concerned about the potential impacts of projects on the Mekong Delta's water resources. Climate change in recent years has exacerbated drought and saltwater intrusion. Therefore, for any projects affecting the river's flow, the Secretariat should conduct scientific, accurate, and objective studies, while proposing cooperative solutions among countries to minimize negative impacts.

Leaders of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRC)

Regarding the promotion of research and exploitation of renewable energy potential, Minister Do Duc Duy and Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun recognized the potential for developing renewable energy in the Mekong River Basin. Therefore, the Secretariat should continue to propose and conduct deeper studies on renewable energy potential in the basin and make recommendations to countries on clean and sustainable energy solutions, gradually reducing dependence on hydropower, which poses risks during extreme weather events.

At the same working session, Minister Do Duc Duy expressed his wish for the Secretariat to coordinate with member states to enhance cooperation with the two upstream countries, China and Myanmar, to ensure comprehensive management throughout the Mekong-Lancang River Basin. He called for support from development partners and international organizations for MRC activities and urged greater community involvement in the MRC's initiatives.

Working towards successful outcomes in activities, contributing to the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin countries

As the current CEO of the MRC Secretariat, Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun hopes for Vietnam’s continued support for MRC's shared goals and committed to making every effort for the success of MRC activities, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin countries.

The MRC Secretariat is the administrative and technical body of the MRC, under the supervision of the Joint Committee. It is headquartered in Vientiane, Laos, with the Flood and Drought Management Center located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The Secretariat currently employs 63 staff members from the four riparian countries, divided into four divisions: Planning, Technical Support, Environment, Administration, and the Office of the CEO.

The CEO serves a three-year term, rotating among member countries. The current CEO is from Laos, and starting in January 2025, the CEO will be from Thailand.

Minister Do Duc Duy and the MRC Secretariat Executive Director on a field trip by the Mekong River (Thailand can be seen across the river)

Ngoc Huyen (NRE Newspaper)