Washington DC (VNA) – Cooperation between Mekong and theUS was the theme of the annual diplomacy forum held by the MeridianInternational Centre in Washington DC on June 6.

Delegates at the forum included representatives from the USadministration, the Congress, international research organisations and USbusinesses, along with the Ambassadors and Charge d’affaires of Cambodia, Laos,Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Speakers at the event focused their attention on political,economic and cultural linkages between the US and mainland Southeast Asia.

US officials, including Assistant Secretary of Defence RandallShriver, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mark Clark, formerAmbassador to ASEAN Piper Campbell and former Senator Jim Mark, talked aboutthe orientations of US’s cooperation with Mekong and ASEAN countries in thetime ahead, as well as its Open and Free Indo-Pacific Strategy.

The delegates spoke highly of Vietnam’s role in cooperation inMekong and ASEAN, and expressed their belief that the country will well performthe ASEAN Chair in 2020.

Vietnamese Ambassador Ha Kim Ngoc, US Assistant Secretary ofDefence Randall Shriver and former Ambassador to ASEAN Piper Campbell exchangedviews on the enhancement of relations between countries along the Mekong Riverand the US.

Ngoc affirmed the strategic significance of the Mekong region,saying Mekong countries and the US share many benefits brought about by cooperationin the Mekong region.

With a combined population of 240 million and total gross domesticproduct (GDP) reaching about 800 billion USD, the five countries in the MekongSub-region have become important partners in security and development.

Vietnam and other countries in the Mekong Sub-region have greatdemand for cooperation and development in infrastructure, renewable energy anddigital economy, he said.

The diplomat suggested the two sides take a comprehensive andflexible approach to cooperation in order to make full use of their strengthand address regional challenges.

Priorities should be given to the effective and sustainablemanagement and use of water resources, renewable and sustainable energydevelopment, infrastructure development and human resources development throughtraining programmes and cultural exchanges in order to enhance connectivity andnarrow development gaps, he said.

Ngoc also proposed carrying forward the existing mechanisms likethe Lower Mekong Initiative, promoting coordination between partners in andoutside the region, and engaging financial institutions and private businessesin cooperation and investment projects in the Mekong region.

As the ASEAN Chair in 2020, Vietnam will work to intensifycooperation in the Mekong region, optimise existing mechanisms between Mekongand partner countries, including the US, and integrate them into theimplementation of master plans of the Mekong and ASEAN regions as well as UNSustainable Development Goals, he said.

On the sidelines of the event, the Vietnamese Embassy displayedVietnamese handicrafts, and cultural and tourism publications.

Established in 1960, Meridian InternationalCenter is a non-profit organisation which partners up with the US StateDepartment and other government agencies in organising activities to promotecooperation between the US and other countries.-VNA