United against disaster

It's heartening to see that the first Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit turned out to be a platform for forging regional cooperation against the dwindling water level of the river. The outcome will pave the way for more joint efforts from countries bordering the river to fight the ongoing drought there and manage the waterway more efficiently.

The summit meeting, attended by leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand, concluded in Thailand on Monday with participants pledging to work closer in dealing with the drought.

This will be a blessing to the more than 60 million people who rely on the Mekong for their livelihoods. Since the end of last year, people in lower basin countries have been suffering from a severe drought that has brought Mekong's water level to the lowest mark in 50 years.