SECRETARY CLINTON'S JULY 23 MEETING WITH LOWER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 PARTO 000014 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SENV ECON SOCI OVIP CLINTON HILLARY XC SUBJECT: SECRETARY CLINTON'S JULY 23 MEETING WITH LOWER MEKONG MINISTERS REF: EMBASSY HANOI-EAP/MLS E-MAILS JULY 21, 2009 PARTO 00000014 001.2 OF 009 ¶1. (U) July 23, 2009; 4:30 p.m.; Phuket, Thailand. ¶2. (SBU) Participants: U.S. The Secretary Ambassador Eric John EAP A/S Kurt Campbell Deputy Chief of Staff Jake Sullivan EAP DAS Scot Marciel Spokesman Ian Kelly Lt GEN Paul Selva, Military Advisor to the Secretary Greg Smith, National Wetlands Research Center Director, US Geological Survey Stan Ponce, Central Region Director, US Geological Survey Brett Blackshaw (EAP/MLS Notetaker) CAMBODIA Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Hor Namhong Kao Kim Hourn, MFA Secretary of State for ASEAN Affairs Ambassador to Thailand Eng Roland You Ay, MFA Chet Narin, MFA Nuon Chivon, MFA Yung Chansophea, MFA Chuk Bunna, MFA LAOS Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisioulith Vice Foreign Minister Bounkeut Sangsomsak Assistant Foreign Minister Alounkeo Kittikhoun Ambassador to Thailand Ouan Phommachack Khiene Phansourivong, DG for ASEAN Affairs, MFA Khenthong Nuanthasing, DG for Press Affairs, MFA Phongsavanh Sisoulath, DDG for ASEAN Affairs, MFA Khampone Vongsanty, Economic Affairs, MFA Viengxay Thammavong, Economic Affairs, MFA THAILAND Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya Vice Foreign Minister Panich Vikitsreth Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, Secretary to FM Kasit PARTO 00000014 002.2 OF 009 Chitriya Pinthong, Deputy Permanent Secretary, MFA Apichart Chinwanno, Deputy Permanent Secretary, MFA Arjaree Sriratanaban, Counsellor for Information, MFA Supark Prongthura, Counsellor for ASEAN Affairs, MFA Kamolwan Sriposil, ASEAN Affairs, MFA VIETNAM Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem Assistant Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh Ambassador to ASEAN Vu Viet Dung Nguyen Hong Cuong, DG for ASEAN Affairs, MFA Pham Hai Binh, DDG for Policy Planning, MFA Nguyen Minh Vu, Policy Planning, MFA Hoang Thuy Duong, DDG for Economic Affairs, MFA Tran Duc Binh, DDG for ASEAN Affairs, MFA Nguyen Nam Cuong, International Cooperation, Office of Government ¶3. (SBU) SUMMARY: In the first-ever ministerial meeting between the United States and the countries of the Lower Mekong (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam) on July 23, 2009, Secretary Clinton emphasized U.S. interest in strengthening engagement on common cross-border concerns -- especially in the areas of environment, health, and education. The four Foreign Ministers welcomed the Secretary's initiative to boost ties with the Mekong countries, especially in those areas, as part of revitalized U.S. engagement with the ASEAN region. The Ministers pledged support for initiatives announced by the Secretary on climate change and river management, including a partnership between the Mekong and Mississippi River Commissions, and "Forecast Mekong," a project to model the impact of climate change and damming on food security and the ecology of the Mekong basin. Vietnam and Laos suggested infrastructure as another area for cooperation. The Secretary proposed that the United States and Lower Mekong countries meet annually. Vietnam offered to host a second Ministerial on the margins of the next ARF in July 2010. END SUMMARY. -------------- RENEWED U.S. ENGAGEMENT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Secretary opened the meeting by emphasizing PARTO 00000014 003.2 OF 009 U.S. interest in deepening engagement with the countries of the Lower Mekong region on common, cross-border issues, especially in the areas of environment, health, and education. She noted the "historic" nature of the gathering, as the first Minister-level meeting between the United States and Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam as a grouping. The United States values its bilateral ties with each country, she said, but also recognizes that the countries of the Mekong face distinct common challenges as a region, including those linked to the river and its resources. ¶5. (SBU) The Foreign Ministers of all four Mekong countries welcomed the Secretary's initiative to meet with them as a group. They noted that the U.S. initiative was "very timely" (Vietnam),"an excellent complement to existing frameworks" in the Mekong region (Cambodia),and "a clear indication of U.S. commitment to strengthen ties with ASEAN" (Laos). Thai Foreign Minister Kasit, noting his longtime support for a greater U.S. role in the region, said he was "so pleased the United States is now connecting to the Mekong -- the very lifeline of Southeast Asia." -------------- CLIMATE CHANGE, RIVER MANAGEMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The Secretary stressed the importance of the Mekong river as a "sustaining force" for mainland Southeast Asia, and a direct source of livelihood for the more than 60 million people who live along it. Yet the resources and ecology of the river are increasingly at risk, she said, due to rising sea levels, glacial melt, and decisions on river management, such as plans to dam the river's main stem. ¶7. (SBU) The United States has grappled -- and is grappling -- with similar challenges in the Mississippi river basin, the Secretary noted. This common experience provides a natural basis for partnership. She then announced two initiatives to work with the Lower Mekong countries in this area: -- an agreement between the Mekong River Commission and the Mississippi River Commission to pursue a "sister-river" PARTO 00000014 004.2 OF 009 partnership to share expertise on the management of trans- boundary water resources, climate change adaptation, water demand and food security, hydropower and impact assessment. (NOTE: The two Commissions signed a Letter of Intent on July 29 agreeing to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding, including a plan of action, within six months. END NOTE); -- "Forecast Mekong," a project led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in collaboration with Mekong country experts to model and assess the future impact of climate change and other challenges on the Mekong river's food security, ecology, and economic livelihood. (NOTE: Following the Secretary's comments, Dr. Greg Smith of the U.S. Geological Survey gave a 6-minute video presentation to introduce the project, emphasizing that it will be based on partnerships with Mekong country universities, government agencies, and other experts through USGS' existing Delta Research and Global Observation Network (DRAGON) Partnership. END NOTE) ¶8. (SBU) Hurricane Katrina taught the United States some painful lessons about the unintended consequences of river management and changing climate in the Mississippi Basin, the Secretary said. America hopes to learn from the Mekong countries, she added, and to help ensure that they do not have to relive the difficulties we experienced in the Mississippi. -------------- BUILDING ON MEKONG-MISSISSIPPI TIES -------------- ¶9. (SBU) All four Lower Mekong Ministers welcomed closer cooperation with the United States on climate change and river management, including issues related to hydropower. They praised plans for a partnership between the two River Commissions, and for Mekong experts to work with USGS to develop the Forecast Mekong project. All agreed that the common challenges of the Mekong and Mississippi offered a strong basis for partnership with the region. ¶10. (SBU) Thai FM Kasit highlighted several areas where collaboration could be most useful: determining how much of the river's flow comes from rainfall and how much from glacial melt in China's Tibetan/Qinghai Plateau; the PARTO 00000014 005 OF 009 relationship between the tributaries and the main stem of the river; setting rules to govern trans-boundary/multi- jurisdictional river management; sustainable development of the river delta; flood control; and the role of dams (both for power and irrigation). ¶11. (SBU) Vietnamese Deputy PM Khiem suggested exploring cooperation on conducting environmental impact assessments, and improving hydro-meteorological technology for weather forecasting (to better predict tropical storms). Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong emphasized fisheries as a priority. -------------- HEALTH AND EDUCATION COOPERATION -------------- ¶12. (SBU) The Secretary highlighted infectious disease as another challenge that spans national boundaries and which the United States and Mekong countries can work well together. Vietnamese Deputy PM Khiem urged closer cooperation at the regional level to more effectively deal with epidemics. ¶13. (SBU) Khiem and Cambodian Deputy PM Hor Namhong welcomed U.S. interest in exploring new areas for cooperation in education. Khiem urged closer ties between the United States and the Mekong countries at the university level, especially to promote environmental expertise and boost the skills (what he called "software") needed to manage the expanded trade infrastructure in the Mekong region. Lao Deputy PM Thongloun said his government also would be keen to explore closer infrastructure development in future U.S.-Mekong discussions. ¶14. (SBU) The Joint Press Statement and Fact Sheet, issued after the meeting (full text in paras 18-19),highlight existing U.S.-Mekong collaboration on health and education programs and U.S. plans to hold Mekong-focused conferences on "Integrated Approaches to Infectious Disease" and "The Internet, Education and Development." -------------- FOLLOW-UP -------------- ¶15. (SBU) To follow up, the Secretary proposed that the PARTO 00000014 006 OF 009 five countries "set a schedule for an annual meeting" in order "to keep our work focused and moving forward." She noted that holding the event on the margins of ARF was "probably a good idea," as a matter of convenience. (NOTE: After the meeting, Vietnamese officials reiterated their government's offer to host a second U.S.-Lower Mekong meeting at the Ministerial level in July 2010 on the margins of the next ARF meeting in Hanoi, as conveyed via dipnote to Embassy Hanoi on July 21 -- see reftel). ¶16. (SBU) The Secretary added that the United States "should establish a working group of technical experts to consider steps going forward." She agreed that the U.S and Mekong countries should explore some of the education and human resource ideas mentioned (e.g. by Vietnam) and encourage a meeting of the Mekong and Mississippi River Commissions to move their partnership ahead. ¶17. (SBU) In response to a suggestion from Thai FM Kasit, the Secretary added that the United States will "coordinate with the Japanese" in advance of the Ministerial (and possibly Summit-level meeting) that Japan plans to hold with the Mekong countries before the end of 2009. The Secretary also welcomed Kasit's suggestion that the United States explore how the Mekong Training Institute for Research and Development in Khon Kaen, Thailand, might be used to reinforce U.S.-Mekong cooperation. Kasit added that the Lower Mekong Committee of the UN's Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP),based in Bangkok, offered a good source of data for understanding the Mekong region. -------------- JOINT PRESS STATEMENT -------------- ¶18. (U) The following Joint Press Statement, endorsed by all five delegations, was issued after the meeting. Begin text: JOINT PRESS STATEMENT OF THE U.S.-LOWER MEKONG MINISTERIAL MEETING Following is the text of a joint statement by the United States, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam issued on July PARTO 00000014 007 OF 009 23, 2009, in Phuket, Thailand. The U.S. Secretary of State and the Foreign Ministers of the Lower Mekong Countries -- Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam -- held the first-ever U.S.-Lower Mekong Ministerial Meeting today in Phuket, Thailand, to discuss issues of common interest, particularly in the areas of the environment, health, education, and infrastructure development. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton underlined the importance of the Lower Mekong region and its individual countries to the United States and America's commitment to advancing peace and prosperity in the ASEAN region as a whole. The Ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam welcomed the closer cooperation by the United States with the countries of the Lower Mekong region on issues of regional significance of mutual interest to ensure sustainable development and prosperity in the Mekong region. The Ministers discussed shared priorities, including understanding the impact of climate change and how to respond effectively; fighting infectious disease; expanding the use of technology for education and development, especially in rural areas; as well as developing infrastructure. The Ministers reviewed ongoing joint efforts in these areas, and agreed to explore new areas of cooperation. The Ministers welcomed, in particular, the initiative of the Mekong River Commission and the Mississippi River Commission to pursue a "sister river" partnership to share expertise and best practices in areas such as climate change adaptation; flood and drought management; hydropower and impact assessment; water demand and food security; water resource management, and other common concerns. The Ministers agreed that senior officials and experts would discuss specific activities for cooperation and follow-up. End text. -------------- FACT SHEET ON U.S.-LOWER MEKONG COOPERATION -------------- ¶19. (U) The following Factsheet, outlining U.S. collaboration PARTO 00000014 008 OF 009 with the Lower Mekong countries in the areas of environment, health and education, was issued by the Department after the meeting. Begin text: FACT SHEET U.S Collaboration with the Lower Mekong Countries on the Environment, Health and Education On July 23, the first-ever group meeting of the U.S. Secretary of State and the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam took place in Phuket, Thailand to highlight the increasing cooperation between the United States and the Lower Mekong countries in the areas of the environment, health and education. Some activities currently underway include: Environment -------------- The U.S. will spend more than $7 million in 2009 on environmental programs in the Mekong Region. Programs in this area include: --Development of "Forecast Mekong," a predictive modeling tool to illustrate the impact of climate change and other challenges to the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin. --An agreement between the Mekong River Commission and the Mississippi River Commission to pursue a "sister-river" partnership to improve the management of trans-boundary water resources. --Support for projects that promote the sustainable use of forest and water resources, preserve the tremendous biodiversity of the Mekong Basin, and increase access to safe drinking water. --The United States. is seeking Congressional approval for an additional $15 million in 2010 for assistance related to improving food security in the Mekong countries. PARTO 00000014 009 OF 009 Health -------------- U.S. assistance to the Mekong countries in the health field will total over $138 million in 2009, and focus on the following areas: --HIV/AIDS: Working in partnership with Mekong countries, ongoing U.S. assistance has contributed to the 50 percent reduction in HIV/AIDS infection rate in Cambodia, and provided treatment and prevention services to over 2 million people across the region. --Pandemic influenza: The U.S. has provided $95 million since 2006 to support ongoing programs in Mekong countries to prepare for, and respond to threats from, outbreaks of pandemic influenza. --Malaria and tuberculosis: U.S. assistance supports the tracking, identification and treatment of multi-drug resistant malaria and TB in the Mekong region. --Plans to hold a "U.S.-Mekong Conference on Integrated Approaches to Infectious Disease" in the next 6-9 months. Education -------------- U.S. assistance in the area of education for 2009 totals $16 million, including: --Support for more than 500 student and scholarly exchanges with Mekong countries each year through the Fulbright Program and other educational programs. --Support for increasing basic education enrollment and expanding broadband Internet connectivity in rural communities. --Plans to hold a "U.S.-Mekong Forum on the Internet, Education and Development" to promote best practices and regional collaboration on the use of internet connectivity to foster development. End text. CLINTON