The Mekong International Forum, themed "Promoting Synergy among Mechanisms for Sustainable Growth," was successfully convened today in Ho Chi Minh city. Co-organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the event attracted a diverse assembly of nearly 150 delegates, both in-person and online.
There
are 19 Vietnamese and international scholars and experts attending the Forum.
In addition, approximately 130 delegates from governmental agencies, research
institutes, and foreign representative missions actively participated in
discussions, addressing crucial issues impacting the Mekong sub-region.
In
the opening speech, Dr. Pham Lan Dung, Acting President of the Diplomatic
Academy of Viet Nam, emphasized the geo-strategic significance of the Mekong
sub-region. Dr. Dung acknowledged the region's challenges, stressing the need
for a unified effort to address non-traditional issues such as climate change
and sea-level rise. She highlighted the complex landscape of Mekong
cooperation, describing it as a "spaghetti bowl" of overlapping
mechanisms advocating diverse ideas of development.
To ensure the region's future and sustainable development, Dr. Dung stressed the importance of cross-mechanism collaboration, collective action, knowledge sharing, and policy coordination.
Mr. Florian Feyerabend, in his remarks, underscored the necessity of collaborative solutions. He urged increased cooperation between regional and international actors to collectively tackle pressing issues. Feyerabend emphasized that the sustainable development of the Mekong sub-region can only be preserved through such collective action and cross-mechanism cooperation.
The
Forum focused its discussions on enhancing understanding of various cooperation
mechanisms in the Mekong sub-region, identifying opportunities for synergy, and
developing practical recommendations to support sustainable growth.
The event provided a platform for insightful views and fruitful discussions among speakers and participants. Perspectives on the current state of the sub-region were exchanged, and policy recommendations were proposed to foster a more synergized Mekong community and cooperation mechanisms.
This year's Forum marked a significant milestone with its participation of speakers from major countries, sub-regional nations, and scholars from renowned think-tanks worldwide.
The Mekong International Forum has solidified its status as a well-known brand among academic activities hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam. Building on the success of the 1st and 2nd Mekong Forums, this Forum serves as a stepping stone for future series of forums on the Mekong sub-region, promising a widened scope in the coming years.
