Initiative on Deepening Lancang-Mekong

Water Resources Cooperation

(August 16 2024)

The Ninth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Chiang Mai, on 16th August 2024. We, the Heads of Delegations of the Lancang-Mekong countries, recall the consensus reached in the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration of the Fourth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting and the Five-Year Plan of Action of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (2023-2027) on strengthening cooperation on water resources, support further deepening Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation, and welcome the following initiatives by the water resources authorities of the six countries:

1. We emphasize that the six member countries are located in the same region and share the same river. Strengthening Lancang-Mekong cooperation on water resources, properly utilizing, protecting and managing the water resources of Lancang-Mekong River is crucial to ensure the regional water supply security, food security and energy security and promote the sustainable socio-economic development in the region.

2. We agree that Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation should adhere to the LMC theme of "Shared River, Shared Future", with the overarching goals of ensuring the health and longevity of the Lancang-Mekong river, carry forward the LMC spirit of "Development priority, equal consultation, practicality and high efficiency, and openness and inclusiveness", follow the principle of "Extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits", give thorough consideration to the national and water conditions, and fully respect the legitimate rights and interests of each member country in the proper development and utilization, protection and management of water resources. The water resources authorities of the six member countries should work together to make Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation a flagship brand of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.

3. We commend the six member countries for close alignment with the water-related goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and efforts to promote sustainable socio-economic development and benefit people through the sustainable use, management and protection of water resources in the Lancang-Mekong Region.

4. We welcome the six member countries for strengthening policy coordination, deepening practical cooperation, promoting exchanges and mutual learning, and carrying out practical cooperation in sustainable development, management and utilization of water resources, hydrological information, water-related data and information sharing and monitoring disaster risk reduction, drinking water safety, dam safety, capacity building, personnel training, and whole basin management, so as to jointly promote the upgrading of Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation.

5. We support the six member countries to intensify efforts to study and implement the Five-Year Action Plan of the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation (2023-2027), welcome to draw up the project library over the Plan on Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Benefitting the People. We suggest that the six countries actively expand funding and support sources for water resources cooperation and make full use of funds provided by governments, international organizations, international partners, other national and regional organizations, the private sector and business partners to support the implementation of practical cooperation projects and other cooperation activities.

6. We commend the six member countries for holding the Ministerial Meeting and Forum on Water Resources Cooperation on a regular basis, and encourage the six countries to continue to support the building of the LMC Water Center in terms of personnel, technology and budget on a voluntary basis. We support the six member countries in actively promoting international exchanges and cooperation on whole basin management.

7. We support the six member countries in strengthening exchanges and mutual learning on best practices in the sustainable and efficient development, management and conservation of water resources, and personnel training and vocational education cooperation to enhance water resource management capabilities.

8. We encourage the six member countries to foster water cultural exchanges among the member countries, strengthen science popularization among the juvenile group, so as to jointly improve the public’s scientific recognition of water challenges.

9. We reaffirm to strengthen exchanges with existing cooperation mechanisms such as the Belt and Road Initiative, ASEAN, ACMECS, GMS, and the MRC, etc, advance mutual promotion and coordinated development, promote synergy among existing cooperation mechanisms, and jointly build a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future for peace and prosperity.

10. We encourage the six member countries to jointly expand partnership network of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation, cooperate with all parties interested in promoting the sustainable use, protection and management of water resources in the Lancang-Mekong region, and jointly promote green, peace, and high-quality development in the region.