H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, is scheduled to attend the Mekong-US Partnership Inaugural Ministerial Meeting via videoconference on 11 September 2010. Held on the margins of the 53rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Related Meetings, the Mekong-US Partnership Inaugural Ministerial Meeting will be co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the U.S. Secretary of State.

The Mekong-U.S. Partnership (MUSP) is elevated from a decade-long cooperation under the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI), which was initiated by the U.S. in 2009 with the main objective of promoting equitable, sustainable and inclusive development in the Mekong sub-region. It comprises six member countries; namely the United States, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The Meeting will review progress made under the LMI and discuss future directions for the Mekong-U.S. Partnership, especially ways to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure economic recovery. The Meeting will also focus on areas of cooperation under the MUSP, inclusive of economic connectivity, sustainable water, energy and natural resources management, human resources management and non-traditional security in the Mekong sub-region.

The Meeting will adopt the Mekong-U.S. Partnership Joint Ministerial Statement reaffirming member countries’ commitment to enhance cooperation for peace, security, prosperity, and sustainable development in the sub-region.