Recap: Indo-Pacific Conference on Strengthening Transboundary Rivers Governance

Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell provided opening remarks at the inaugural Indo-Pacific Conference on Strengthening Governance of Transboundary Rivers on October 15. U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Michael DeSombre offered closing remarks. The conference, organized in partnership with the East-West Center, convened policy-makers, academics, members of civil society, and other transboundary river stakeholders from across the Indo-Pacific region to share best practices related to the sustainable development and cooperative management of transboundary rivers.

Indo-Pacific Conference on Strengthening Transboundary Rivers Governance

The United States Department of State, in partnership with the East-West Center, will host a virtual Indo-Pacific Conference on Strengthening Transboundary Rivers Governance on October 15-16. The invitation-only conference brings together practitioners, experts, and national and civil society representatives to focus on Enhancing Transparency, Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement. This event includes sessions on "Transparency and Partnerships in Transboundary River Governance," "Negotiating Transboundary River Governance," "Stakeholder Engagement in Transboundary River Governance," and "Next Steps for Strengthening Governance of Transboundary Rivers." Assistant Secretary David Stilwell and U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Michael DeSombre will give opening and closing remarks, respectively.

Using More Renewable Energy in Thailand could save the Mekong and Salween Rivers

Thailand’s energy needs will hugely influence the future of the Mekong and Salween rivers, as its use of renewable energy could reduce demand for hydropower produced by its neighbors. A report published this week by the Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP) and authored by policy researchers at the Stimson Center foresees a more secure energy future…

Mekong-U.S. Partnership at a glance

The Mekong-U.S. Partnership expands cooperation between the United States and the countries of the Mekong region.

Mekong-U.S. Partnership Joint Statement

The United States and Mekong Partner countries released a Joint Statement on the launch of the Mekong-U.S. Partnership.

Japan-U.S. Joint Statement on Japan-U.S.-Mekong Power Partnership (JUMPP)

The United States and Japan released a Joint Statement on the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Japan-U.S.-Mekong Power Partnership (JUMPP). This statement affirms the commitment promoting regional energy integration and market development and accelerate Mekong sub-regional infrastructure connectivity. It also highlights projects supported by JUMPP over the last year.

July 14 Webinar: Fostering Solutions and Collaboration for a Sustainable Mekong River Delta

Mark your calendars for July 14 from 10:00 PM - 11:30 PM EDT for the Fostering Solutions and Collaboration for a Sustainable Mekong River Delta webinar, where global and regional experts will discuss the threats to the Mekong River Delta including increasing saltwater intrusion and drought. The Mekong River is home to one of the most productive and biodiverse…

Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong (SIM) (2013-2022)

Managed in partnership with the USAID Regional Development Mission ASIA (USAID/RDMA), The Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong (SIM) is a, government-to government technical assistance program that utilizes the science and engineering expertise of the U.S. Department of the Interior, International Technical Assistance Program to help MUSP countries safeguard the environment from the negative effects of infrastructure development.

Seed Trade Capacity Building (2018-2021)

The Seed Trade Capacity Building program, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, aims to develop the seed sector building institutional capacity for research, innovation, and new seed technologies; promoting and enabling policy environments for seed trade; and facilitating cooperation and partnerships with the private sector in the Mekong Region.

Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP) (2014-2023)

The Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP) is a multi-partner platform established by the Friends of the Mekong for regional dialogue, capacity building, and training. SIP addresses three cross-cutting topics that are central to the Mekong River Basin’s development challenges: assessing the cumulative impact of infrastructure projects, incorporating socio-economic data in basin-level planning, and sharing critical water-related data and information necessary for science-based decision-making.

How will Thailand’s move to Renewable Energy affect its Neighbors?

Thailand’s latest Power Development Plan (PDP) outlines a shift towards a greater share of renewable energy from biomass, solar, and wind in its total energy mix.  Researchers are assessing the implications of this change. Today’s Bangkok workshop, organised by the Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP), discussed how Thailand’s interest in solar, wind and other renewables could…

Strengthening the U.S.-Mekong Partnership

The Mekong Matters to America The Mekong region – Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam – is strategically important to the United States. The region is a focus of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy, and integral to our engagement with ASEAN. The United States aims to uphold sovereignty, transparency, good governance, ASEAN centrality, and a…