Thailand will seek cooperation with countries along the Mekong River and will use various mechanisms including the Mekong-US, Mekong-Japan and Mekong-South Korea cooperation frameworks to solve Mekong River problems, including floods and droughts.
Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa recently held talks with the ambassadors to Thailand of the member states of the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), a political, economic, and cultural organisation grouping Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar, aimed at dealing with floods around the Mekong River.
Earlier, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra assigned the Foreign Ministry to collaborate with the countries affected by the ongoing problem.
Mr Maris said he discussed both short-term and long-term plans for solving problems related to the Mekong River, including floods and droughts.
As part of the short-term plans, he said disaster alert systems will be set up.
He emphasised the system must be suitable for Thailand, Myanmar and its neighbours, citing differences between these countries in terms of geographical characteristics.
Mr Maris also stressed the need for the Khon Kaen-based Mekong Institute, experts in water management; and the Mekong River Commission (MRC), whose member states include several developed nations, to function cooperatively.
As for long-term plans, Mr Maris said his ministry will hold a meeting between Mekong River countries via mechanisms such as the ACMECS, which Thailand started and operates, though with added roles and responsibilities related to water management to help tackle the problem.
The ambassadors who joined the discussion agreed with the idea, he said.
Apart from Mekong Institute, the MRC and ACMECS, Mr Maris said there are other cooperative mechanisms, including the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) mechanism, of which China is a member, and frameworks like the Mekong-US, Mekong-Japan and Mekong-South Korea groupings.
These organisations will incorporate the Mekong Institute's expertise and that of the MRC to help end the Mekong River problems.
Mr Maris said the US, Japan and South Korea can help Mekong River countries install the infrastructure required for long-term flood prevention, adding Thailand will seek additional help from the Netherlands, which has expertise in flood prevention, if necessary.