The first meeting of the national Mekong committee (CNMC). MWRM
Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology Thor Chetha, who chairs the Cambodia National Mekong Committee (CNMC), stated that as a member of the Mekong River Commission (MRC), Cambodia would maintain its active involvement and close cooperation with other member countries and relevant partners to ensure sustainable development of the Mekong River basin.
Chetha made the remarks as he led the first meeting of the CNMC under the seventh-mandate government on March 20, as reported on the ministry’s social media.
Tasked with coordinating, managing, protecting and conserving the river, the committee’s role extends to developing water and other resources for national economic purposes, the welfare of the people and fostering peace, friendship and international collaboration in the Mekong region, said the minister.
“As a member of the MRC, we are committed to active participation and close cooperation with other member countries such as Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as other relevant partners. We aim to strengthen and enhance regional collaboration for the sustainable development of the Mekong River basin,” he added.
Chetha also noted that the achievement of national and regional cooperative frameworks reflects a high level of responsibility and effort in implementing the government’s strategic policies and plans.
He expressed firm belief that, guided by the five-year strategic plan (2024-28) and with a strong spirit of cooperation, the committee would successfully fulfill its mission.
He said it would contribute to new achievements in managing, using, developing and conserving water and other resources both nationally and regionally, aiming to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGS) in the basin.
A recent report titled “The Mekong’s Forgotten Fishes” – published by the USAID’s Wonders of the Mekong project, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Laos and 24 other regional and global Mekong-based institutions – highlighted the river’s significance.
The analysis said the Mekong ranks third globally in providing habitats to over 1,000 animal species and sustains more than 40 million people. It also noted the river’s rich biodiversity, assisting the migration of approximately 5 billion fish annually.
