Australia will provide 13 million AUD to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to support better water resource management in the Mekong River basin, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith.

The Australian Foreign Minister made the statement at a meeting with ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Counterparts in Phuket, Thailand, on July 22 for the annual ASEAN-Australia Post Ministerial Conference.

Management of water resources is an important development challenge in the Mekong basin. The abundant fish stocks and agricultural water of the river support the livelihoods of 60 million people in the region. These include very many people from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, the principal ASEAN countries to benefit from these initiatives.

Australia's support will help develop the institutional capacity of the MRC and its staff, and improve consultation on projects such as dam construction and water diversion for irrigation, according to a July 22 media release by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith also announced 1.2 million AUD in Australian support to promote trade along key regional transport corridors in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).

Over the last 15 years, trade has boomed and poverty has fallen across the region. Improved customs and quarantine procedures will help maintain and enhance this strong growth./.