Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Minister calls out growing threats to health of Mekong

Minister calls out growing threats to health of Mekong

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The Mekong-Lancang Water Resources Cooperation Forum held virtually on December 7-8. MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES AND METEOROLOGY

Minister calls out growing threats to health of Mekong

Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology Lim Kean Hor said a number of difficult challenges that need to be dealt with proactively are all putting growing pressure on the Mekong River’s resources and threatening its sustainability.

He called on all of the Mekong River countries to strengthen their cooperation, management and sustainable development on the water resources.

Kean Hor made the remarks while attending the 2nd Mekong-Lancang Water Resources Cooperation Forum held via video conference under the theme “working together to address challenges” on December 7-8.

He said the Mekong River had important water resources for driving the Mekong countries’ socio-economic development, as well as for sustaining the livelihoods and wellbeing of the peoples across the entire river basin.

“The challenges include population growth, increasing demand for water, food and energy security and rapid development in the basin. The possible impacts and risks of climate change have been putting pressure on river resources and sustainability,” he said.

The minister said it is a joint responsibility of all of the countries along the river to strengthen regional cooperation and work together to achieve results that ensure water security and support sustainable management and development in the Mekong-Lancang region.

He expressed his gratitude for the progress and achievements that have been made so far within the framework of the Mekong-Lancang forum, which helped the Mekong countries pursue sustainable socio-economic development and bring prosperity to the region with tangible productivity and results, including water resources cooperation.

He said Cambodia is committed and prepared to continue to work closely with the other Mekong countries in the spirit of shared responsibility towards achieving common prosperity with inclusive growth and a sustainable future for each nation and for the whole Mekong-Lancang region.

Separately, Hour Thanith – the Ministry of Environment representative who attended the virtual China-ASEAN dam safety science popularisation conference in November – said he appreciates the Mekong-Lancang framework which supports the preservation of the Trapeang Thmor reservoir in Banteay Meanchey province.

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Main Venue of the 1st China-ASEAN Dam Safety Science Popularization Contest On November 25-26, 202. SUPPLIED

He said the project protects the environment and socio-economy.

“Through this programme, we have built relationships and the capacity for our youths to study safe water management and conservation with China and other ASEAN member countries,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Wing Bank opens new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004

    Wing Bank celebrates first anniversary as commercial bank with launch of brand-new branch. One year since officially launching with a commercial banking licence, Wing Bank on March 14 launched a new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004. The launch was presided over by

  • Girl from Stung Meanchey dump now college grad living in Australia

    After finishing her foundational studies at Trinity College and earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne in 2022, Ron Sophy, a girl who once lived at the Stung Meanchey garbage dump and scavenged for things to sell, is now working at a private

  • Rare plant fetches high prices from Thai, Chinese

    Many types of plants found in Cambodia are used as traditional herbs to treat various diseases, such as giloy or guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) or aromatic/sand ginger (Kaempferia galangal) or rough cocklebur (Xanthium Strumartium). There is also a plant called coral, which is rarely grown

  • Ministry using ChatGPT AI to ‘ease workload’; Khmer version planned

    The Digital Government Committee is planning to make a Khmer language version of popular artificial intelligence (AI) technology ChatGPT available to the public in the near future, following extensive testing. On March 9, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications revealed that it has been using the

  • Cambodia returns 15M Covid jabs to China

    Prime Minister Hun Sen said Cambodia will return 15 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to China for donation to other countries. The vaccines in question were ordered but had not yet arrived in Cambodia. While presiding over the Ministry of Health’s annual meeting held on

  • Wat Phnom hornbills attract tourists, locals

    Thanks to the arrival of a friendly flock of great hornbills, Hour Rithy, a former aviculturist – or raiser of birds – in Kratie province turned Phnom Penh tuk tuk driver, has seen a partial return to his former profession. He has become something of a guide