China pledges Mekong River data-sharing, details unclear

[webfact]

China pledges Mekong River data-sharing, details unclear

 

FILE PHOTO: A fisherman is seen on the Mekong river bank outside Nong Khai, Thailand January 10, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - China's prime minister pledged on Monday to share more water management data from its portion of the Mekong River with its neighbours in Southeast Asia after U.S. criticism that it was "hoarding" water and hurting livelihoods downstream.

 

Details were not available, and it was not clear whether China would work with the 25-year-old Mekong River Commission (MRC), or if it would keep the data-sharing within its own Lancang Mekong Cooperation (LMC) organisation.

 

"China is willing to offer more assistance within its capacity to other Lancang-Mekong countries for better utilizing water resources," Prime Minister Li Keqiang was quoted as saying by the Xinhua News Agency.

 

He spoke at a video-conference summit of leaders of the six LMC members: China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

 

Two years of record drought on the 4,350-km (2,700-mile) Mekong River have been devastating for many the 60 million people who depend on it for fishing and farming.

 

A report published by a U.S. research company this year accused China's 11 dams on the upper stretches of the river of holding back large amounts of water during a drought last year, a finding China disputed.

 

China has no water treaties with the lower Mekong countries and only shares limited data during the monsoon season on flows on the upper stretch of what it calls the Lancang River.

 

Thai government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri told Reuters specifics on data-sharing would be worked out in coming months.

 

"Details will be discussed among relevant ministers from the six countries," he said.

 

Downstream countries say they need more data from China to help them make plans and request adjustments in the river’s flow.

 

Thailand also urged the China-backed LMC, set up in 2016, to work with experts at the Mekong River Commission (MRC) when developing its information-sharing platform, the government said in a statement.

 

Management of the Mekong has become another front in the battle for influence between China and the United States, with the U.S. ambassador to Thailand describing China as setting up the LMC as a way to set the agenda on developing the waterway.

 

The MRC traces its origins back to U.S. efforts to promote development during the Cold War. It works with the governments of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam to foster the sharing and sustainable development of the river and its resources.

 

Officials at the MRC say it welcomes cooperation with the LMC and China.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok, Gabriel Crossley in Beijing and Prak Chan Thul in Phnom Penh. Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Robert Birsel)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-25

 

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[webfact]

Regional leaders meet virtually in 3rd Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Summit

 

   

BANGKOK(NNT) - Thailand’s Prime Minister today joined the 3rd Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Summit, held virtually via video conference, where leaders from the sub-region discussed economic cooperation to help with recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, as well as the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to all.

 

The Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has joined a video conference, from government house in Bangkok, with leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and China in the 3rd Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Summit, held under the theme of Enhancing Partnership for Shared Prosperity.

 

The summit was co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, and China’s Premier Li Keqiang. Both thanked the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation member states for multilateral help and assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing that such cooperation must be maintained to enable sustainable economic development.

 

The Prime Minister of Thailand has delivered his remarks, supporting cooperation between member states, stressing this crisis as an opportunity to further enhance cooperation and partnerships, increasing the wealth of the people without leaving anyone behind.

 

He stressed cooperation in several areas, starting with water management for the people along the Mekong river through the Mekong River Commission, and the holding of regular ministerial meetings on water resources to push for concrete results from the cooperation.

 

On security and public health, Thailand stressed its preparedness for international COVID-19 vaccine research and development cooperation, within the World Health Organization’s framework, while positioning itself as the region’s hub for medicine and vaccine production.

 

Thailand and all Mekong-Lancang Cooperation member states have agreed that once an effective vaccine has been developed, it should be accessible by all.

 

On the enhancement of connectivity within the Mekong sub-region, Thailand pledged to cooperate in all aspects to help distribute wealth to areas disconnected from economic corridors, and to promote connections between different economic corridors.

 

The Thai Prime Minister also urged member states to help one another stimulate economic activity, including border trade, tourism and travel, to help with the sub-region’s sustainable economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2020-08-25

 

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[mark131v]

Fair to say little Pinocchio is way out of his depth, not really hard,  but that's irrelevant in a vassal state, big brother up the river controls all.

 

Flags firmly nailed to the mast, maybe get some crumbs from the table....

[sammieuk1]

He looks up the creek without a paddle and all at sea ????

[misterjames]

Quote

Officials at the MRC say it welcomes cooperation with the LMC and China.

Edited August 24, 2020 by misterjames

[mark131v]

1 minute ago, misterjames said:

A picture paint's a thousand words.....

[lujanit]

The CCP will do what is best for China and hurts the rest of the world.  The belt and road initiative is enough proof of this.  This pseudo meeting is nothing more than the CCP coercing the other countries on the Mekong into doing its bidding and in return they might get a trickle of water.

[Tropicalevo]

China will share the information that it want people to hear. There will be no relationship with the truth.

[Darkside Gray]

China the country that just keeps on giving!

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The Prime Minister of Thailand has delivered his remarks, supporting cooperation between member states, stressing this crisis as an opportunity to further enhance cooperation and partnerships, increasing the wealth of the people without leaving anyone behind.

More nonsense then !

[hlj]

When the virus pandemic started China used that to start taking what they wanted and have worked on for years. China blames everyone for their (China's) failures. For instance the virus, yes China's CCP is evil. They also want to claim all of the China sea which is international waterway. They Claim small islands ad build military bases on the islands belonging to other countries and so on. They also lend money to poor countries when the countries can not start repaying on the loan (The CCP) takes what they have built in the country or even the country. I could go on and on with this subject, this is just a highlight on what the Chinese CCP is doing to the world.

[Grumpy one]

How will the information be delivered, via a message in a bottle ?

[Redline]

Meaning inaccurate facts-false data

Edited August 25, 2020 by Redline

[daveAustin]

17 minutes ago, Redline said:

Meaning inaccurate facts-false data

Strewth! It's not rocket science my friend.

[daveAustin]

17 hours ago, hlj said:

When the virus pandemic started China used that to start taking what they wanted and have worked on for years. China blames everyone for their (China's) failures. For instance the virus, yes China's CCP is evil. They also want to claim all of the China sea which is international waterway. They Claim small islands ad build military bases on the islands belonging to other countries and so on. They also lend money to poor countries when the countries can not start repaying on the loan (The CCP) takes what they have built in the country or even the country. I could go on and on with this subject, this is just a highlight on what the Chinese CCP is doing to the world.

Short of hitting them hard militarily, the only way to stifle the place is to repatriate foreign companies (including Apple) and stop bloody enabling the regime. Everyone loves 'cheaper' of course, which is why they have done so well, operating their factories through overworked automaton slaves. The people could rise up themselves of course (ultimate nightmare for CCP), but too much apathy and fear. Yuck.

[Redline]

8 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Strewth! It's not rocket science my friend.

I suppose it’s who is analyzing the data