(VOVworld) - The 6th Mekong-Republic of Korea Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took place in Vientiane, Laos, on Sunday on the sidelines of the ongoing AMM 49.

The 6th Mekong-Republic of Korea Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. (Photo: Pham Kien– VNA’s correspondent in Laos)

The ministers reviewed the Mekong-RoK connection and discussed future orientations for the cooperation mechanism. They said they hope the Mekong-RoK Cooperation Fund (MRCF) will continue to provide financial support for medium- and long-term projects that contribute to realising the master plan of ASEAN connectivity.

Participants agreed on the need to enhance bilateral and multilateral links with international partners and organisations in the Mekong River region and debated global issues related to the Korean peninsula, tensions in the East Sea, natural disasters and climate change, and security of water, energy and food.

The meeting approved a joint statement and seven projects, which will use funding from the MRCF.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh encouraged the private sector to join the cooperation mechanism, especially in green growth, sustainable water management and development, and climate change adaptation.

He spoke highly of the vital role of the Mekong River in the Mekong sub-region and said the cooperation mechanism should support the Mekong River Commission’s activities.