K-water discusses plans for Mekong River cooperation

The Korea Water Resources (K-water) CEO met with five ambassadors from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to discuss cooperation in the water management of the Mekong River, the state-run company said on Tuesday.

From left to right are Alounkone Boulommavong, Deputy Chief of Mission in Laos, Thailand Ambassador Witchu Vejjajiva, Myanmar Ambassador Thant Sin, K-water CEO Yun Seog-dae, Vietnam Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tung, Han Seong-yong, K-water chief global officer and Cho Yong-deok, K-water general director of global cooperation department. [K-WATER]

The Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) CEO met with five ambassadors from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to discuss cooperation in the water management of the Mekong River, the state-run company said on Tuesday.

K-water CEO Yun Seog-dae met with the ambassadors in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, to discuss its plans for the Mekong River. The plans include the establishment of a system that provides flood alerts in Laos and the expansion of the water supply in Cambodia.

The Mekong River is the longest river in Southeast Asia and flows through the six Asian countries of China, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia.

The ambassadors to the five countries, which notably did not include China, experienced the water management system that features innovative technologies in the water management situation room for the Han River. The sustainable management of water and ways to prevent water disasters caused by climate change in the Mekong River region were discussed.

“The Mekong River Basin, an area that continues to cooperate in diverse forms with Korea, has infinite potential with a high economic growth rate and abundant water resources,” said Yun in a statement.

K-water and the Ministry of Environment plan to hold a Mekong-Korea International Water Forum in Incheon for two days from Sept. 7 to discuss solutions to water issues in the area.

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]