China, Mekong River Commission sign hydrological data provision agreement
China and the Mekong River Commission (MRC) on October 22 signed an agreement under which China will provide the MRC with year-round hydrological data, contributing to better river monitoring and flood and drought forecasting in the Mekong countries, according to the MRC.
Mekong River flowing through Thailand (Photo: Reuters)
Hanoi (VNA) – China and the Mekong River Commission (MRC) on October 22signed an agreement under which China will provide the MRCwith year-round hydrological data, contributing to better river monitoring andflood and drought forecasting in the Mekong countries, according to the MRC.
MRC Secretariat Chief ExecutiveOfficer An Pich Hatda described the agreement as a landmark in the history ofChina-MRC cooperation.
He said that as waterinfrastructure operations in the basin and tributaries are increasinglycontributing to river flow changes and fluctuations that can impact riverinecommunities, more operational data sharing will be critical to the managementof the Mekong River.
Over the last 18 years, China has shared its waterlevel and rainfall data during June – October in the flood season from twohydrological stations located in China’s southwestern Yunnan province.
But inthe context of worsening droughts, the MRC has asked China to provideyear-round data so as to help with identifying the cause of low-level water onthe river.
In Augustthis year, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang pledged to share more hydrological data with regional countries./.
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Mekong River flowing through Thailand (Photo: Reuters) 
