GMS International Conference with Focus on Sustainable Tourism Development
	Launch of MekongElevate Project “Green and Sustainable Adaptation for Ethnic Minority Communities”

The 2026 MUSP Senior Officials’ Meeting brought together representatives from the Mekong member countries, the United States, and the ASEAN Secretariat to review progress in cooperation, discuss future priorities, and prepare for upcoming high-level activities within the cooperation framework.

At the meeting, participating countries positively assessed the implementation of cooperation across various priority areas, including sustainable management and utilization of Mekong water resources, economic connectivity, energy, digital transformation, agriculture, environment, healthcare, capacity building for disaster response, and addressing transnational challenges. Delegates noted that amid continued regional and global uncertainties, maintaining practical, effective cooperation that adapts to the subregion’s evolving development needs has become increasingly important.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang, Head of Vietnam’s ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) delegation, addresses the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

In his remarks, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang emphasized that Mekong cooperation should continue making tangible contributions to sustainable development, narrowing development gaps, and enhancing the resilience of countries in the subregion. He called on partners to maintain strong commitments, ensure adequate resources, and promote the effective implementation of concrete cooperation projects that place people at the center and better respond to the development needs of Mekong countries.

The Deputy Minister also underscored the need to strengthen complementarities and linkages between Mekong subregional cooperation mechanisms and the ASEAN Community-building process. This, he noted, would help safeguard ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture while avoiding duplication, improving resource efficiency, and generating greater synergies among existing mechanisms.

Regarding future cooperation directions, participating countries agreed to continue advancing MUSP’s priority areas, strengthen policy coordination, improve the effectiveness of existing programs, and expand cooperation in emerging fields to enhance resilience and promote inclusive and sustainable development in the Mekong subregion.

As part of the working program, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang also attended the 38th ASEAN-US Dialogue together with ASEAN member states and the United States to review progress in implementing the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang and US Assistant Secretary of State Michael DeSombre co-chair the Mekong-US Partnership Senior Officials’ Meeting. (Photo: Dangcongsan)

At the dialogue, participants exchanged views on regional and international developments and assessed progress in key areas of cooperation, including economics, trade, investment, science and technology, digital transformation, supply chain connectivity, education, innovation, and cooperation in addressing emerging challenges.

The Vietnamese delegation reaffirmed its support for strengthening ASEAN-US relations in a balanced, substantive, effective, and mutually beneficial manner. It also emphasized the importance of maintaining ASEAN unity and centrality, promoting multilateralism, dialogue, and cooperation for peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region.

Advancing Climate Resilience for Ethnic Minorities through the “MekongElevate” Project Organized by CARE in Vietnam in coordination with the Son La Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the “MekongElevate: Green and Sustainable Adaptation for Ethnic ...

Promoting Gender Equality, Social Inclusion in Water Resource Governance in Mekong River Basin Funded by the Australian Government and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, this project is a commitment to safeguarding livelihoods against the impacts of ...