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　　Leaders from four Southeast Asian nations haveagreed to strengthen regional cooperation indeveloping and protecting the water resources onthe Mekong River Basin. Meeting in Ho Chi Minh CityApril 2nd through 5th, the premiers of Vietnam,Laos, Cambodia and the Special Envoy of Thailandapproved a declaration recommitting their nations to the 1995 Mekong Agreement thatcreated a framework to build consensus among Mekong Basin nations on development andother issues.

　　The Lower Mekong River runs from China, through the four Southeast Asian nations, to thesea. Nearly 70 million people in the basin rely heavily on the river for their livelihoods, and thoseinvolved in irrigated agriculture and fishing make up 85 percent of the workforce there. Becauseproblems at any point could affect millions of people downstream, nations along the riverorganized in 1994 to form the Mekong River Commission to work cooperatively to addressthem. At the commission’s second summit in Ho Chi Minh City last week, leaders identifiedensuring water, energy and food security in the context of climate change as priorities they willfocus on in the months to come.

　　The United States congratulates the commission and its member nations for nearly twodecades of achievement. Through the MRC, regional governments have improved the lives ofmillions of people through sustainable economic development and regional cooperation.

　　That said, the challenges facing the commission and the river basin nations are greater thanever before. Increasing demands on the Mekong’s resources, rapid development and the effectsof climate change are putting greater pressure on the river, threatening a uniqueenvironment and the livelihoods of millions. Responding to these challenges will require greaterscientific and technical capacity, increased investment and still more regional cooperation.

　　Through programs such as the Lower Mekong Initiative and Connect Mekong, the United Statesis committed to supporting the efforts of the Mekong River basin nations to improve regionalcooperation and management of the river’s resources, providing a sustainable future for allwho depend on the waters of the Mekong.