The sustainable development of water and related resources in the Mekong River Basin is at a crucial stage and as member countries of the Mekong River Commission meet this week in Siem Reap, Chheang Vannarith argues that a code of conduct is now vital to ensure equitable sharing of water resources and related benefits.
Leaders from the four member countries of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) – Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam – and high-level representatives from the two MRC’s dialogue partners, China and Myanmar, will gather in Siem Reap this week to discuss the achievements of regional cooperation over the past four years and set out new directions for coming years.
It is expected that the Siem Reap Declaration will be issued after the third MRC Summit to lay out key priority areas of cooperation and to reaffirm shared commitments, responsibilities and ownership of managing trans-boundary water resources in a sustainable and inclusive manner.
While policy consultation is ongoing, it is important for the MRC member countries to consider developing a “Code of Conduct for the Mekong River Basin”. This policy proposal is inspired by the policy recommendation made by the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) in 2014.
There is no doubt that the Mekong River is at a critical turning point. It is now dependent on political will and commitment to sustain the flow of the river for the benefit of 70 million people whose livelihood very much relies on the rich ecosystem and biodiversity of the river.
The MRC’s CEO Pham Tuan Phan noted that, “considering the growing pressures on the basin – population increases, infrastructure development, and climate impacts – it is of utmost importance that we use this event as an opportunity to define a clear set of priorities. We need to work together, across borders and sectors, to ensure equitable sharing of water resources and related benefits.”
In addition, Cambodia’s Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology, Lim Kean Hor, observed that, “while some countries may stand to benefit substantially from hydropower generation more than others, vying for these diversified resources has been a source of conflict, negotiation and catalyst for peace and cooperation.”
Mismanagement of the Mekong River can result in regional tensions and conflicts if preventive measures, crisis management, and a mechanism for conflict settlement are not in place.
The Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin adopted on April 5, 1995 is a legally binding document. It lays out principles and norms of regional cooperation in managing the river basin.
The Agreement includes some key components that can be incorporated into future consideration on developing a code of conduct for the Mekong river basin, including prevention and mitigation measures of harmful effects, state responsibility for damages, and a dispute settlement mechanism.
