The Mekong River Commission (MRC) announced on November 26 that its members - Cambodia,

Thailand, Vietnam and Laos - signed a joint agreement stating they will inform each

other of river development projects that could affect their neighbors. The agreement,

which was signed earlier last month in Vietnam, stated each country must allow a

six-month consultation period before starting any development. Burma and China, the

two other countries through which the river flows, are involved in dialogue on the

matter. A spokesperson for the Mekong River Commission said the members want closer

cooperation between all six Mekong countries.