Action programmes to deploy the US’s 50 million USD support package pledged to Lower Mekong countries was discussed at the fifth meeting of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Regional Working Group in Cambodia on November 6-7.
Addressing the meeting, US Ambassador to ASEAN David Carden stressed that the Mekong River is a valuable natural resource for the Lower Mekong countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam, due to its role in ensuring water and food supply and creating livelihoods for millions of people.
Working together to promote the sustainable and effective management of the river is a challenge to regional country, added the US Ambassador.
As many as 13 leading US experts in energy, agriculture, environment and health shared with Lower Mekong colleagues successes and lessons in establishing effective and sustainable cooperation programmes related to a common river.
The LMI, announced by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2009, centres on offering financial and technical assistance to help the aforesaid five countries raise their cooperation capacity in the spheres of infrastructure connection, food and energy security, education and health issues.
At the 4 th LMI Ministerial Meeting in Cambodia in July last year, Hillary Clinton pledged to provide 50 million USD to the Lower Mekong countries between 2013 and 2014.-VNA
