VIETNAM ENGAGEMENT INTRANSBOUNDARY WATER COOPERATION

IN MEKONG RIVER BASIN

Contribution to flowu China – 16% (21% CA)u Myanmar – 2% (3% CA)u Cambodia – 18% (20% CA)u Lao PDR– 35% (25% CA)u Thailand – 18% (23% CA)u Viet Nam – 11% (8% CA)

Length: 4,900 km (10)Catchment: 795,000 Km2 (21)Ave Discharge: 15,000 m3/s (8)

MEKONG RIVER

MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION

o MRC - Cooperation Agreement (5 April 1995)

n Cambodian Lao PDRn Thailandn Vietnam

o Dialogue partnersn Chinan Myanmar

MRC’s mission

Defined by the 1995 Mekong Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin

Article 1: Areas of cooperation

To cooperate in all fields of sustainable development, utilisation, management and conservation of the water and related resources of the Mekong River Basin …

…including, but not limited to irrigation, hydro-power, navigation, flood control, fisheries, timber floating, recreation and tourism…

Article 2: projects, programmes and planning

To promote, support, cooperate and coordinate in the development of the full potential of sustainable benefits to all riparian States and the prevention of wasteful use of Mekong River Basin waters…

… with emphasis and preference on joint and/or basin-wide development projects and basin programmes through the formulation of a basin development plan

which would be used to identify, categorize and prioritize the projects and programmes

to seek assistance for and to implement at the basin level.

To protect the environment, natural resources, aquatic life and conditions, and ecological balance of the Mekong River Basin from pollution or other harmful effects…

Article 3: Protection of the environment and the ecological balance

VIENAM NATIONAL MEKONG COMMITTEE

VNMC MISSION

….. to assist Prime Minister in directing, managing cooperative

activities with the Mekong River Commission and to submit for

the Government's consideration policies on the Mekong

cooperation with the aim to developing, using and protecting

the water and related resources in the Mekong river basin in

general and in the Mekong delta and Central Highlands in

particular

VNMC FUNCTIONØ To cooperate with the member countries in implementing

Agreement on the Cooperation for Sustainable Development of Mekong River Basin

Ø …….Ø To cooperate with co-basin countries, other countries, NGOs,

international organizations and the ministries, agencies, the Government's organs and Provincial People's Committees to propose projects aiming at development and protection of the Mekong delta and Central Highlands

Ø To elaborate, with other MRC member states, rules and procedures for managing and implementing the Mekong projects.

Ø ……

Chaired by Minister of MARD

Vice chairmans : Vice ministers of MARD, MPI and MOFA

Members: Ø Vice Ministers of MOT; MONRE; MOIØ Secretary General of VNMCØ Vice chairmans of Provincial People Committees in Mekong

Delta and Central Highlands

MANAGEMENT BOARD

TRANSBOUDARY WATER

COOPERATION

National laws and PoliciesNational Cooperation Programme“Regional RBO” - MRCRegional Development Initiatives/ProgrammeBilateral cooperationNational RBOs

COOPERATION REFLECTION

Laws on Water Resources stipulates for widely opening coopration with neighbouring countries in utilization and management of joint water resourcesCooperation Agreements on economy, culture and science & technologyCooperation programme

AT NATIONAL

Joint Expert Group (Cambodia and Vietnam) to formulate Regulation for water utilization in border area (Mekong Delta)Navigation Agreement on mainstream with CambodiaMOU on Fishery Development Cooperation with CambodiaCooperation with Cambodia and Lao for joint project in 3S Zone initiated by ADBJoint research group on EIA of Sesan and Srepok hydropower developmentHydropower development in Lower Sesan Basin in cooperation with Cambodia (Sesan 1 – 90 MW)Hydropower Development in cooperation with Lao (Se Kaman 0 - 1 – 3 – 4 and Sekong 3 hydropower plants)

Some Programme Cooperation

Formulation of Rules/Procedures for Water Utilization in the LMB

1. Procedures for Data and Information Exchange and Sharing

2. Procedures for Water Use Monitoring3. Procedures for Notification, Prior

Consultation and Agreement4. Procedures for the Maintenance of Flow

on the Mainstream

Development of Tools for Monitoring and Assessment

1. Decision Support Framework (DSF)2. EIA and SEA3. Toolkits for selection and prioritization

Through MRC

Active and Effective involvement in all MRC Programme

1. Water Utilization Programme (rules/procedures)2. Basin Development Plan (joint development)3. Environment Programme (protection)4. Flood Mitigation and Management Programme5. Information and Knowledge Management Programme6. Navigation Programme7. Fisheries Programme8. Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme9. Hydropower Programme10. Drought Programme11. Tourism Programme12. Capacity Building Programme

Joint development activities with Lao and Cambodia (transboundary sub-area meetings for development scenario formulation)

Strengthen bilateral cooperation with LNMC and CNMC through MOUs signed by Chairman – Ministers and its action plan

Assisting each other in implementing the MRC programs (elaboration and implementation of rules/procedures on Water utilization)Coordinating exchange of data/information related to development in upstream areaFacilitating bilateral cooperation between relevant ministries, sectorsFormulating joint projects in 3-S zone under ADB initiation (Lao –Cambodia – Vietnam) and Join projects in Mekong delta under assistance of WB (Vietnam – Cambodia)Strengthening capacity building in interested fields (technical and managerial fields)Conducting exchange visit at various levels for promoting cooperation and discussion on issues of mutual concern

Bilateral cooperation with LNMC & CNMC

Establishment of River Basin Organization (RBO) in CuuLong (Tien and Hau) rivers and Srepok/Sesan rivers with one of main functions to cooperate with upper parts in management of water resourcesVietnam National Mekong Committee to assiss and support these RBOs in related aspects

River Basin Management in cooperation with upper countries

Mekong planning development activities integrated into National Plan/strategies (through MPI)National Planning process repeated by 5 steps with development scenario formulated with consideration and hamonization with situation and trend in upper basin

Incoperation with national

Well directed by national LAWs and PoliciesGoodwill and strong national commitments confirmedRegional and bilateral cooperation promotedRoles of regional and national RBOs actively playedCooperation at all levels in all possibilitiesQualified human resources

Lessons and Experiences

Thank youThank you

Joint working groupJoint working groupJoint Government MeetingsJoint Government MeetingsJoint research and studyJoint research and studyBorder line cooperationBorder line cooperation