BANGKOK, Thailand – H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with the Ambassadors of the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) member countries to Thailand on 20 September. The meeting was attended by the Ambassadors of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, to discuss on an emergency response to the flooding situation in the Mekong region.
During the meeting, the Minister emphasized the urgent needs for all countries in the Mekong region to unite our efforts in tackling the pressing flooding crisis. The Minister proposed to expedite an ongoing plan to install telemeter stations along the Mae Sai and Nam Ruak rivers in Myanmar, and support the installation of additional telemeter stations in Lao PDR, particularly along the tributaries of the Mekong River, in order to strengthening our surveillance and early warning systems. In addition, the Minister also urged for dredging of the Mae Sai River and tacking the problem of encroachment on both sides of the river. Also, the Minister emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation in the area of water management, particularly in tackling floods and managing water resources during the rainy and dry seasons, by utilising sub-regional frameworks such as ACMECS, the Mekong River Commission (MRC), and the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC). Additionally, Thailand will push forward the cooperation on water resources management with ACMECS development partners namely Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and the United States, as well as with relevant international organization such as the Mekong Institute to achieve concrete solution for the sustainable development of the Mekong region. (MFA)
