The Republic of Korea joins MRC as new Development Partner
The Republic of Korea joins MRC as new Development Partner
Vientiane, Lao PDR, 29 July 2024 – The Mekong River Commission (MRC) is pleased to welcome the Republic of Korea (ROK) as its newest Development Partner. In a significant boost to regional cooperation and sustainable development, the ROK has committed a grant of USD 1,000,000 to the MRC for the year 2024, and the possibility of providing additional contributions in the following years. This contribution is aimed at supporting the implementation of the Basin Development Strategy 2021-2030 for the Mekong River Basin and the MRC Strategic Plan 2021-2025.
The signing ceremony took place at the MRC Headquarters in Vientiane, on 25 July 2024, with Mr. Kim Dong-bae, Director General of the ASEAN and Southeast Asia Affairs Bureau at ROK’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Jung Yung Soo, Korean Ambassador to Lao PDR, representing the ROK delegation. Mr. Kim highlighted the importance of this partnership in fostering sustainable development and regional cooperation in the Mekong River Basin.
The Basin Development Strategy 2021-2030 and MRC Strategic Plan 2021-2025 outline comprehensive approaches to managing the Mekong River Basin’s resources, aiming to balance economic growth, environmental protection, and social development. The ROK’s contribution will play a crucial role in advancing these initiatives, ensuring the sustainable development and well-being of the communities within the basin.
“As a friend of the Mekong countries and member of our region, it is high-time for the Republic of Korea to join the premier regional body for Mekong river basin management as a Development Partner. This will add a strategic approach to cooperation and build on past and ongoing collaborations between the MRC and various Korean agencies,” said Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun, Chief Executive Officer of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat.
As a Development Partner, the ROK joins a diverse group of other countries who provide financial resources to support and contribute to the sustainable management and development of the Mekong River Basin. In the midst of ongoing challenges with making development sustainable and address climate change and water security, a partnership approach significantly boosts the MRC’s efforts to promote regional cooperation and sustainable development, contributing to the prosperity, peace and resilience of the Mekong region.
About the Mekong River Commission:
The MRC is an intergovernmental organization established in 1995 to boost regional dialogue and cooperation in the Lower Mekong River Basin. Based on the Mekong Agreement among Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, the MRC serves as both a regional platform for water diplomacy and a knowledge hub – to manage water resources and support sustainable development of the region.
-ENDS-
For more information, please contact:
Ms. MAO Chandaly
Communication Officer for Press
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
Email: chandaly@mrcmekong.org
