Mekong countries and the U.S. adopted a Joint Co-Chairs ‘Statement and the Mekong-U.S. Partnership Plan of Action 2024-2026, at the end of the Third Mekong-U.S. Partnership Foreign Ministers Meeting held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR on July 27, 2024.

According to a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International made public this morning, the meeting marked 15 years of cooperation between the two sides under the Lower Mekong Initiative in 2009, expanded to the Mekong-U.S. Partnership (MUSP) in 2020.

Ministers reviewed positive progress under the Partnership and applauded the substantive achievements of programmes and activities under the MUSP Plan of Action 2021-2023. These ranged from economic connectivity, food security, health, education, governance and women’s empowerment to environmental protection and transnational crime, addressing numerous challenges, narrowing development gaps and improving the livelihoods of Mekong citizens.

M
inisters expressed their appreciation to the U.S. Government for its steady support and assistance for sustainable regional development under the MUSP framework.

Ministers warmly congratulated Thailand as incoming co-chair of the Partnership in 2025 and looked forward to fruitful achievements under joint collaborative efforts.

In the meeting, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. SOK Chenda Sophea lauded the many tangible benefits under the framework and welcomed the launch of the new MUSP Plan of Action 2024-2026.

The Cambodian top diplomat expressed confidence in the new Plan of Action in strengthening long-standing cooperative ties and providing a concrete roadmap to realise the common aspiration of Mekong countries for dynamic, resilient, inclusive and sustainable socio- development.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse