Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha attends the second Mekong-Lancang Water Resources Cooperation Forum, December 7, 2021 - Photo: VNA

Vietnamese Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha made the above statement while addressing the second Mekong-Lancang Water Resources Cooperation Forum held in virtual format on Tuesday.

Tran said the Mekong-Lancang river basin, home to over 60 million people, is now facing great and increasing challenges, including the exhaust of natural resources, environmental degradation, and biodiversity losses.

Leaders of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation should build an overall and sustainable development for the whole region on the basis of considering the specific conditions and the interest of each regional country, said the minister.

He also stressed the need for the Mekong-Lancang countries to enhance the partnership among governments and relevant parties, including regional and international organizations, scientist community, businesses and civil social organizations.

Tran went on to say that policies and actions regarding the management of water resources should be made suitable to the goals envisaged by Mekong-Lancang Cooperation leaders on post-pandemic economic recovery and sustainable development on the basis of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

He expressed his belief that the forum will bring about important messages and recommendations, while all countries will join hands together to turn challenges into new development opportunities, affirming the joint vision and determination for a basin of sustainability and prosperity./.