Government

Japan has revamped its strategy in the Mekong. Earlier this year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s diplomatic right-hand man Kentaro Sonoura delineated Japan’s foreign aid policy for the region, stressing the importance of the aid’s ‘quality’ rather than ‘quantity’. Accordingly, Japan has changed its strategy ...

When the president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, visited Beijing in October 2016, shook hands with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and announced the “separation” of his country from the United States, it felt like a pivotal moment.  []The Philippines, like other states such as Cambodia ...

Two decades ago, this sleepy city on the Mekong River was just starting to pave its streets. [] In recent years, Chinese investment in resource-rich Laos has strengthened the country’s economy, which is projected to grow by 7 percent this year.  Keep reading ...

In November 2015, the foreign ministers of China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam held a meeting to discuss the establishment of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC). The LMC framework was formally established in March 2016 by the six member countries. The LMC is an important ...

A single-visa scheme for five Chiang cities across Thailand, Myanmar, China and Laos is in the works. The five cities comprise Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in Thailand, Chiang Tun in Myanmar’s Shan State, Chiang Rung in China’s Jinhong (Yunnan) and Chiang Thong in Laos’ ...

Member states’ audit offices pledged commitments to sustainable development via promoting environmental audits and stronger anti-corruption measures. Keep reading ...

Thai and Cambodian civil society organizations rejected an invitation from the Lao government to attend a regional stakeholder forum on the Pak Lay dam, saying that the prior notification and consultation procedures for the controversial hydropower project are not transparent. Keep reading ...

The 74th joint patrol on the Mekong River by law enforcement from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand began on Tuesday. Three Chinese vessels participated in the mission, which is aimed at reducing crime in the region. Keep reading ...

Leaders of the Mekong nations have raised concerns over the development of hydropower along the river system following the collapse of a major dam in Laos in July. The leaders met on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum on Asean to discuss their vision for ...

A Cambodian coalition of NGOs dedicated to raising public awareness about the risks associated with dams on the Mekong River said Thursday that it will boycott a regional stakeholder forum for two proposed hydropower projects in Laos because its concerns were ignored by the organizing ...