Power rivalry heats up Mekong regionAn aerial view dated July 14, 2024, shows a section of the Mekong River where the Pak Beng hydropower dam is planned, in Oudomxai province, Laos. The Thai saying, maenam maimee promdan (rivers have no boundaries), fittingly applies to the mighty Mekong River, known in China as the Lancang. In 2016, the six countries gathered in Sanya, Hainan Island, to establish the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), as it is now widely known across the region. It has also encouraged closer cooperation between the LMC and the Mekong River Commission (MRC), while promoting linkages with ACMECS (Ayeyarwaddy-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy). Established in 1995, the MRC has long served as the main treaty-based body for studying and monitoring the Mekong River, accumulating extensive scientific research, hydrological data and technical expertise.

Source: Bangkok Post March 23, 2026 22:15 UTC