Statement by Dr Olivier Cogels
MRCS Chief Executive Officer
Mexico City
March 2006
The Mekong River Commission, as one of the major international river basin organisations in the Asia-Pacific Region, is pleased to strongly support the Asia- Pacific Water Forum Initiative.
We would like to take this opportunity to emphasise the need for increased cooperation between all countries sharing a common international river.
This is indeed crucial for peaceful and sustainable development of the high economic potential of the Asian river systems. I hope and I believe that this forum will offer one essential instrument for strengthening the partnerships and complementarities between international river basin organisations and other international institutions involved in water resource development in this region.
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