VINACHEM

HCM CITY — Sustainable development of the Mekong River to achieve its economic potential would increase Asia's global political and economic role, according to leaders of the countries in the region.

"Sustainable development is a must to preserve the Mekong River," Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said when he opened the session yesterday on Mekong River at the World Economic Forum on East Asia with participation of four other Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.

The co-operation between nations in the Greater Mekong Subregion to develop the river was vital, given that the river was home to a hundred million people from six countries, he said.

"It is important to promote and strengthen the effectiveness of bilateral and multi-lateral co-operation system within ASEAN and with others," he said. The international community including the US, Japan and Europe had shown increasing interest in the opportunities for agriculture, hydropower and mining along the Mekong, he said.

Dung said GMS region nations should work with international organisations and foreign investors, and create laws to encourage private investment in infrastructure.

"We need to find common goals and join forces to boost sectors like human resources, waterways, new energies, and services," Dung said, noting that the priority for the region was to cope with climate change, environmental protection, hunger elimination and poverty reduction.

"The future of Mekong River depends on the actions of each nation in the region," he said.

"We have good connections through roads, waterways, airlines, tele-communication and policies."

Thai Primer Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told the session that all six nations should agree to use green technology for the river and help farmers in the sub region work together.

A good transport system to link all regional economies was needed, according to the Thai leader.

"Thailand has plans to link Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam even by train," he said.

He suggested governments should get small-and medium sized and local enterprises to join the development process.

"Thailand has created a fund to support these enterprises to help them join Mekong River Development projects," he said.

He said Japan and China had recently pledged to become big financial sponsors of the region.

Cambodia Primer Minister Hun Sen warned that economic growth speed, population increases, climate change and poverty had put great pressure on the river.

"Safe exploitation of the river, such as for tourism and agriculture, should be encouraged," he said.

"A new and strong co-operation should be set up to cope with urgent problems quickly and effectively," he added.

Hun Sen asked for a green development plan with priority to preserve water resources as the most important factor for the existence of the river.

"All nations should share the same vision of development and environmental protection through sincere and strong co-operation," he added. Both Lao and Myanmar Primer Ministers Bouasone Bouphavanh and U Thein Sein warned that nations should be careful with national projects on mineral exploitation.

(Source: VNS)