Fact Sheet: Lower Mekong Initiative Launches “Connect Mekong”

The Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) is a multilateral partnership effort initiated by the United States in 2009 for promoting cooperation in the Mekong sub-region in the areas of education, health, environment and water, connectivity, agriculture and food security, and energy security. Over the past four years, LMI has implemented programs through a variety of interagency…

Joint Press Statement between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand and President Barack Obama of the United States of America met today at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, on the eve of the anniversary of 180 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the United States of America to chart the way for a deeper bilateral strategic partnership…

Press Release: Lower Mekong Initiative Third Regional Working Group Meeting in Phuket Consolidates New Elements and Encourages Medium-term Planning for LMI Countries

Thailand hosted delegations from all LMI countries for the September 27-28 Regional Working Group meeting of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI). The senior-level delegations comprised diplomats and officials from the participating nations, including representatives of such ministries/departments as foreign affairs, education, environment, public health, development, public works and transport, economic affairs, agriculture, labor, and energy.…

The U.S. Embassy Vientiane Launched a Program to Train Officials from All These Countries in English Language Skills

VIENTIANE - The Lower Mekong Initiative is a program to bring the nations that share the Mekong River (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam) together to jointly confront issues such as education, health, environment, and infrastructure. In February 2012, the U.S. Embassy launched a program to train officials from all these countries in English language skills,…

U.S. Moves to Strengthen ASEAN by Boosting the Lower Mekong Initiative

By Ernest Z. Bower, Prashanth ParameswaranDuring her visit to Southeast Asia earlier this month, U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton revealed an important tactic in the U.S. effort to strengthen its engagement with ASEAN: boosting the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI). The LMI is part of a larger U.S. strategy that involves locking mainland ASEAN countries—Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar,…

Press Releases: The 5th Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting and the 2nd Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) Ministerial Meeting

On 13 July 2012, Mr. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the 5th Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting and the 2nd Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) Meeting, on the sidelines of the 45th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in…

Lower Mekong Initiative Joint Statement on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

Following is the text of a joint statement issued for the second Lower Mekong Ministerial meeting on July 13, 2012, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia:We, as Lower Mekong Initiative ministers and senior officials, recognize that the economic, social, and political progress of our region can only be achieved with consistent efforts to advance gender equality and…

Fact Sheet: Lower Mekong Initiative Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy Dialogue

On July 12-13, the U.S. Government and the Royal Government of Cambodia convened the first-ever Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy Dialogue as part of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI). Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched the LMI with the foreign ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam in 2009 to enhance cooperation among the…

Fact Sheet: Asia-Pacific Strategic Engagement Initiative

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the Asia-Pacific Strategic Engagement Initiative (APSEI) on July 12 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. APSEI is a new integrated assistance framework that engages on current pressing bilateral and transnational issues, and positions the United States and its partners to sustain regional stability and support an inclusive regional economy in…

Remarks from the Fifth Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial Meeting

SECRETARY CLINTON: (In progress.) The United States is proud of the work we are doing together in the LMI. It is a key component of our ongoing cooperation with ASEAN and efforts to spur regional integration and close the development gap. It’s also a key component of our larger strategy in Asia, where we are working…

Fact Sheet: Lower Mekong Initiative

The Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) is a multinational effort initiated by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2009 to foster integrated sub-regional cooperation and capacity building among Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, in the areas of education, health, environment, and connectivity. Burma formally joined the initiative in July 2012.The United States intends to…

Statement on the Fifth Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial Meeting

On July 13, 2012, the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam -- and the U.S. Secretary of State met in Phnom Penh, Cambodia for the 5th Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting. They formally welcomed Myanmar as the sixth member of the LMI. The six Ministers emphasized the value of the…