The Cai Rang floating market on the Mekong River (Can Tho city).VietNamNet/DNSGCT
A quiet consultation between the US and the four Mekong River ‘downstream countries’ last month has attracted considerable attention. Here Saigon Businessmen’s Weekend analyzes the unusual event.
For two reasons, the meeting organized on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meeting in late July was special.
One, it was the first dialogue between the ‘downstream countries’ and the US, reportedly at the initiative of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The five countries met to discuss cooperation on common concerns, including environment, climate change, healthcare, education and infrastructure development.
Two, the meeting was connected to recent events: China is building many dams in the upper Mekong River basin, including the 292m Xiaowan Dam. The Chinese construction program has caused scientists to worry about harmful impacts on the lower reaches of the Mekong River.
According to Yale Global online magazine (US), 18 dams have been built, are being built or are planned along the river’s 4350 kilometer length.
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