Korea, Mekong nations to open water cooperation forum

South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy will host the 4th Korea-Mekong International Water Forum (MKWF) on Thursday at the Westin Chosun Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul.

About 200 participants are expected to attend, including First Vice Minister of Climate, Environment and Energy Keum Han-seung, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Korea Water Resources Corporation President Yoon Seok-dae, government delegations from the five Mekong River basin countries — Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam — ambassadors to Korea from each country, and representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Mekong Institute (MI), the Mekong River Commission (MRC), the World Water Council (WWC) and Korean water companies.

The Korea-Mekong International Water Forum is an international water cooperation event held since 2022 to strengthen collaboration on water challenges in the Mekong region and to help Korean water companies enter the market and identify concrete cooperation projects there.

A highlight of this year's forum will be the adoption of a joint declaration on Korea-Mekong water cooperation, building on directions discussed at the previous three forums and high-level dialogues.

The joint declaration identifies digital water management, climate resilience enhancement and nature-based solutions, and integrated water management as the main areas of cooperation. It outlines plans to advance collaboration through joint investigations and research, pilot projects, technology exchange and capacity building.

Following the opening ceremony, a high-level dialogue will allow participants to share water management policies and key issues from their respective countries and to discuss strengthening climate resilience through digital water management and the future direction of Korea-Mekong cooperation.

In the afternoon, an international development cooperation partner session will explore ways to translate water management needs in the Mekong region into concrete projects.

In the first discussion, the Cambodian government will present key challenges and needs related to national water resource development and explore future cooperation directions with participants.

In the second discussion, major development cooperation organizations will introduce their ongoing water management projects in the Mekong region and discuss ways to match appropriate technologies and funding to local project needs.

During the event, a Mekong Business Roundtable will give Korean water companies the opportunity to hold one-on-one meetings with government agencies from the five Mekong countries to explore overseas business cooperation. A water technology showcase will also be set up at the venue to highlight the technologies and products of Korean companies.

On Friday, a field visit will be organized for government officials from the five Mekong countries and other participants.

Attendees will visit the Cheonggyecheon Museum and Cheonggyecheon stream to examine a case study in urban waterway restoration, and will also observe urban water management practices at the rainwater drainage facilities of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Based on the discussions at the forum, the ministry plans to continue identifying water management needs in the Mekong region through the Korea-Mekong Water Management Center (KOMEC) and to develop follow-up cooperation projects by linking Korean water companies and related institutions.

"The cooperation built through the Korea-Mekong International Water Forum has advanced a step further with the adoption of this joint declaration," First Vice Minister Keum said. "We will continue to expand Korea-Mekong water cooperation so that the directions set out in the declaration can be developed into concrete projects and translated into tangible results."