Quang Ninh (VNA) – The 25th meetingof the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Council was convened in Ha Long city, thenorthern province of Quang Ninh, on November 28.
It brought together 120 delegates from the council’s fourmember countries of Cambodia,Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The commission’s dialoguepartners – China and Myanmar,and nearly 25 development partners also sent representatives to the event.
Addressing the meeting, Vietnamese Minister of NaturalResources and Environment Tran Hong Ha, who is also Chairman of the MRC Councilfor 2018 and Chairman of the Vietnam National Mekong Committee, said the MRChas fulfilled its mission of serving socio-economic development of the membercountries over the past more than two decades.
With solidarity and high resolve of the member countries,and valuable and continuous support from the development and dialogue partners,as well as other relevant sides, the commission has reaped significantachievements, he said.
He applauded the important role of the dialogue partners inmanaging water resources in the Mekong River basin and the great financial andtechnical support of the development partners to the MRC which, he said, helps thecommission realise tasks set in its Strategic Plan.
The meeting reviewed the commission’s operation in 2018, andagreed on a work plan for 2019, while assessing the mid-term implementation ofthe 2016-2020 Strategic Plan, the realisation of the action plan of the PakBeng hydropower project and the update on the Design Guidance 2018.
Within the framework of the event, meetings were heldbetween the MRC and its dialogue and development partners, during which bothChina and Myanmar affirmed that they stand ready to cooperate with thecommission.
China said it will continue to cooperate with the MRC in theexchange of information and data as well as experts, promote joint technicalresearch with the commission, and enhance collaboration within the framework ofthe Mekong-Langkang Cooperation.
The development partners also pledged to further theircollaboration and financial and technical support to the MRC in 2019 and theyears to come.
On this occasion, the MRC signed two sponsorship agreementswith the development partners, under which the EU committed 4.82 million EUR (5.4million USD) in support of the commission’s operation during the 2016-2020period.
The German Government also pledged to grant 4 million EUR tothe MRC, through the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GIZ), to enhancecross-border partnerships in water resources at the Mekong River basinin the 2019-2021 period.
The next MRC Council’s meeting is scheduled to be held inlate 2019 in Cambodia which will take over the Chairmanship from Vietnam.-VNA
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techno Hun Sen on the sidelines of the third Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on April 4.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the Prime Ministerial Retreat at the third Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on April 5.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has suggested the Mekong River Commission (MRC) give priority to fully and effectively implementing the 1995 Mekong Agreement and promoting its monitoring and coordinating role in performing the commitments of the MRC member countries.
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) will organise the first regional stakeholder forum on the Pak Lay hydropower project in Vientiane, Laos, on September 20-21, according to the MRC’s press release on August 30.
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has recently decided to carry out consultations on the Pak Lay hydropower project in Laos, starting on August 8, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
At the meeting (Source: baotainguyenmoitruong.vn) 
