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Thai gov’t ensures safety of MRC leaders

Thailand ’s government will provide high-level security for leaders from Cambodia , Laos , Vietnam , Myanmar and China who are scheduled to attend the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in Hua Hin early next month, a local paper reported.
Thailand ’s government will providehigh-level security for leaders from Cambodia , Laos , Vietnam ,Myanmar and China who are scheduled to attend the Mekong RiverCommission (MRC) Summit in Hua Hin early next month, a local paperreported.

The Nation daily on March 30 cited Kasemsan Jinnawaso, director generalof the Department of Water Resources, as saying that more than 5,000soldiers and police officers will be deployed to ensure safety for allparticipants during the event, from April 2-5.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Lao PM Bouasone Bouphavanh, VietnamesePM Nguyen Tan Dung, China 's Foreign Minister Song Tao, Myanmar 'sForeign Minister Nyan Win and Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva have allconfirmed they would attend the meeting.

The Thai government has set up a committee, chaired by Deputy PM SuthepThaugsuban, to oversee security for the summit, which is expected topromote and coordinate sustainable management as well as develop waterand related resources for the benefits of all related countries.

The 4,350 km Mekong, one of the world's major rivers, starts in theTibetan Plateau and runs through China 's Yunnan province, Myanmar ,Laos , Thailand , Cambodia and Vietnam .

However, in recent years, downriver countries have complained that damsconstructed by China on the river's upper reaches have causedabnormal changes to water levels./.
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