Connecting South and Southeast Asia through Improved East-West Linkages

This report, completed by the U.S. Department of Transportation and funded by the U.S. Department of State working together under the Mekong-U.S. Partnership, presents the preliminary findings of an initiative to promote and expand intra-regional and east-west connectivity between the Mekong countries and South Asia.  It provides a framework for engaging with regional stakeholders to…

Reporting Tour Showcases Mekong Projects

Pact's Mekong Programs staff at the Mekong Community Institute Local communities that depend on the Mekong River for fishing, farming and tourism were front and center of a reporting tour of Thailand’s resource-rich northeast, from 24-25 March. Staff from Pact’s Mekong Programs accompanied Thai journalists and US embassy officials, including some from USAID, on a…

Using Big Data for Decision Making

Advances in data processing and storage technology have made data about rainfall, river flow, forest cover, salinity levels and other environmental parameters freely available to anyone with Internet access and a computer— but making sense of that data remains a challenge. Imagine every government officer needing to scroll through thousands and millions of statistics every…

USACE Visit Boosts Mekong-U.S. Cooperation

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) visited several government agencies responsible for water resource management in Thailand, during a visit in December 2021 to explore possible partnership opportunities. The USACE team, accompanied by staff of the Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP), visited the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) on 15 December 2021 for discussions about areas…

Mekong Heroes: Thailand

Niwat is the leader of the Chiang Khong Conservation Group. Born and raised on the banks of Mekong River in Chiang Rai, Thailand, Niwat’s life has been shaped by nature and the river. He has seen the highs and the lows of the river’s life on his front doorstep. His work raises critical questions about…

Mekong Heroes: Cambodia

Ma Sokhak is a Cambodian local teacher turned river protector who came into the public eye not long ago. The story of Ma Sokhak is one in a four-episode video series which follows different individuals from the Mekong region to share how they're improving their communities. Witnessing species disappear at an alarming pace in the…

Keynote Address for the Mekong-U.S. Partnership Track 1.5 Dialogue on Infrastructure and Energy

EAP Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink’s Keynote Address for the Mekong-U.S. Partnership Track 1.5 Dialogue on Infrastructure and Energy Good morning and good evening, everyone.  It is an honor to speak to so many distinguished guests, YSEALI participants, innovators, leaders, and policy makers from across the region.  It is a region I am passionate about, having recently…

Investigating Sustainable Energy Development Opportunities

Did you know: Thailand used 60 TW of power just to run air conditioning in 2020—but stricter energy efficiency standards could reduce this consumption by 20 to 30 percent? Cambodia's hydropower production was curtailed by the Mekong drought in 2019-2020? Vietnam was a late starter in renewable energy, but feed-in tariffs helped install 9GW of…

Joint Press Statement of the Friends of the Mekong “Recovery and Resilience”

Joint Press Statement of the Friends of the Mekong “Recovery and Resilience” - United States Department of State The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Governments and Members of the Friends of the Mekong Group on the occasion of the 2021 Friends of…

Secretary Blinken’s Participation in the Friends of the Mekong Ministers’ Meeting

Secretary Blinken’s Participation in the Friends of the Mekong Ministers’ Meeting - United States Department of State On August 5, Secretary Blinken chaired the tenth anniversary meeting of the Friends of the Mekong ministerial. The Secretary congratulated the group on its sustained support to the Mekong subregion and its commitment to transparency, good governance, and…

The Mekong-U.S. Partnership and the Friends of the Mekong: Proven Partners for the Mekong Region

The Mekong-U.S. Partnership and the Friends of the Mekong: Proven Partners for the Mekong Region - United States Department of State The countries of the Mekong sub-region and the United States reaffirmed their long-standing relationship at the second Mekong-U.S. Partnership (MUSP) ministerial on August 2, 2021. Through the MUSP, the U.S. government, working with Congress, continues…

Secretary Blinken’s Participation in the Mekong-U.S. Partnership Ministers’ Meeting

Secretary Blinken’s Participation in the Mekong-U.S. Partnership Ministers’ Meeting - United States Department of State The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: On August 2, Secretary Blinken co-hosted the second Mekong-U.S. Partnership ministerial.  The Secretary emphasized U.S. commitment to a resilient, secure, interconnected, and open Mekong sub-region and emphasized the region’s importance to the…