VIETNAM ENGAGEMENT IN TRANSBOUNDARY WATER COOPERATION IN MEKONG RIVER BASIN
MEKONG RIVER Length: 4,900 km (10) Catchment: 795,000 Km2 (21) Ave Discharge: 15,000 m3/s (8) Contribution to flow China 16% (21% CA) Myanmar 2% (3% CA) Cambodia 18% (20% CA) Lao PDR 35% (25% CA) Thailand 18% (23% CA) Viet Nam 11% (8% CA)
MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION
MRC - Cooperation Agreement (5 April 1995) Cambodia Lao PDR Thailand Vietnam Dialogue partners China 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, hydropower, 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.
Article 3: Protection of the environment and the ecological balance To protect the environment, natural resources, aquatic life and conditions, and ecological balance of the Mekong River Basin from pollution or other harmful effects
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 FUNCTION To cooperate with the member countries in implementing Agreement on the Cooperation for Sustainable Development of Mekong River Basin. 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 To elaborate, with other MRC member states, rules and procedures for managing and implementing the Mekong projects.
MANAGEMENT BOARD Chaired by Minister of MARD Vice chairmans : Vice ministers of MARD, MPI and MOFA Members: Vice Ministers of MOT; MONRE; MOI Secretary General of VNMC Vice chairmans of Provincial People Committees in Mekong Delta and Central Highlands
TRANSBOUDARY WATER COOPERATION
COOPERATION REFLECTION National laws and Policies National Cooperation Programme Regional RBO - MRC Regional Development Initiatives/Programme Bilateral cooperation National RBOs
AT NATIONAL Laws on Water Resources stipulates for widely opening coopration with neighbouring countries in utilization and management of joint water resources Cooperation Agreements on economy, culture and science & technology Cooperation programme
Some Programme Cooperation Joint Expert Group (Cambodia and Vietnam) to formulate Regulation for water utilization in border area (Mekong Delta) Navigation Agreement on mainstream with Cambodia MOU on Fishery Development Cooperation with Cambodia Cooperation with Cambodia and Lao for joint project in 3S Zone initiated by ADB Joint research group on EIA of Sesan and Srepok hydropower development Hydropower 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)
Through MRC Formulation of Rules/Procedures for Water Utilization in the LMB 1. Procedures for Data and Information Exchange and Sharing 2. Procedures for Water Use Monitoring 3. Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement 4. Procedures for the Maintenance of Flow on the Mainstream Development of Tools for Monitoring and Assessment 1. Decision Support Framework (DSF) 2. EIA and SEA 3. Toolkits for selection and prioritization
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 Programme 5. Information and Knowledge Management Programme 6. Navigation Programme 7. Fisheries Programme 8. Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme 9. Hydropower Programme 10. Drought Programme 11. Tourism Programme 12. 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
Bilateral cooperation with LNMC & CNMC 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 area Facilitating bilateral cooperation between relevant ministries, sectors Formulating 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
River Basin Management in cooperation with upper countries Establishment of River Basin Organization (RBO) in Cuu Long (Tien and Hau) rivers and Srepok/Sesan rivers with one of main functions to cooperate with upper parts in management of water resources Vietnam National Mekong Committee to assiss and support these RBOs in related aspects
Incoperation with national 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
Lessons and Experiences Well directed by national LAWs and Policies Goodwill and strong national commitments confirmed Regional and bilateral cooperation promoted Roles of regional and national RBOs actively played Cooperation at all levels in all possibilities Qualified human resources
Thank you
Joint working group Joint Government Meetings Joint research and study Border line cooperation