Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Dung has expressed his country’s wish for regional cooperation in the protection and exploitation of the Mekong river.

Answering correspondents’ queries about Vietnam’s viewpoint on the dams being built for hydro-electricity projects on the upper Mekong river, Dung on July 9 said that “As a country located in the Mekong river sub-region, Vietnam is concerned about information on the harmful impact exploitation has on the river’s flow and its ecological environment, particularly in countries along the river’s lower section.”

Dung stressed that the Mekong is an international river so its exploitation should take into account the interests of the countries through which it passes, as well as issues related to the protection of environment, water resource management and the welfare of inhabitants.

According to Dung, Vietnam has been actively coordinating with member countries of the Mekong River Commission to work out cooperation programmes and projects in order to protect and find the best ways to use the natural resources of the river, especially the Mekong river’s water itself.

“ Vietnam hopes related countries will cooperate on these issues for their mutual interests and to satisfy the demands for sustainable development of all the countries in the river basin,” Dung concluded./.