(VOVworld) – The 21^st session of the Council of the Mekong River Commission opened in Hanoi on Thursday. Representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and 20 delegations of the Commission’s strategic partners, upstream countries, donors, international organizations, and observers joined the event.


They discussed the effects of hydropower plants, the Integrated Water Management-based Basin Development Strategy, the Strategic Plan for 2016-2020, and the transferring of basin management functions to individual countries. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang told the meeting: “The Commission should implement corporate measures to boost the research on sustainable management and development of the Mekong River, including the impacts of hydropower plants, review the Basin development strategy, and build an action strategy for 2016-2020. With strong determination and cooperation, I believe that we can fulfill key tasks in 2015.”