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.

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

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

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

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

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