28th MRC Council Meeting and the 26th Development Partners Consultative Group Meeting (November 25, 2021)

Phnom Penh: H.E Mr. Lim Kean Hor, Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology, Chairman of Cambodia National Mekong Committee and Member of the MRC Council for Cambodia led the Cambodia Delegation, comprising representatives of line Ministries and Agencies to attend the 28th MRC Council Meeting and the 26th Development Partners Consultative Group Meeting.

The 28th MRC Council Meeting and the 26th Development Partners Consultative Group Meeting were chaired by Excellency General Prawit Wongsuwon, Deputy Prime Minister and Member of the MRC Council for Thailand, the Chairperson of the MRC Council for 2021 and were attended by the Ministerial MRC Council Members of other three countries, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, representatives of the Development Partners, Dialogue Partners, regional and international organizations and key staff of the MRC Secretariat.

The Meeting reviewed and discussed the progresses made on the implementation of MRC work and activities in 2021 with a main focus on the Regional cooperation, Enhancement of organizational operation and activity implementation, Recruitment of the 3rd Riparian Chief Executive Officer of the MRC Secretariat from Lao PDR for 2922-2024 tenure, Preparations for the 4th MRC Summit in 2023 in Lao PDR as the host country, Enhanced effectiveness in managing water utilization and river monitoring, Hydrometeorological conditions in the Lower Mekong Basin, updated MRC work plan for 2022 and some other key tasks. The MRC Council at the Meeting discussed and approved the Rules of Procedures of the MRC Council and Joint Committee and the Sustainable Hydropower Development Strategy.

At the Meetings, the MRC Member Countries as well as the Development Partners highly appreciated the progresses and achievements of the MRC made in 2021 in the face of Covid-19 pandemic and they reiterated their continued commitments at a new height in working together to further strengthen the regional cooperation in order for the effective and successful implementation of the Basin Development Strategy, 2021-2030 for the sustainable management and development in the Mekong River Basin.