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

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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

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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.

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RENEWED U.S. ENGAGEMENT
--------------


4. (SBU) The Secretary opened the meeting by emphasizing

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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."

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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"

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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.

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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

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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.

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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."

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FOLLOW-UP
--------------


15. (SBU) To follow up, the Secretary proposed that the

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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.

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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

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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.

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FACT SHEET ON U.S.-LOWER MEKONG COOPERATION
--------------


19. (U) The following Factsheet, outlining U.S. collaboration

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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.


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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