Mekong-Korea Forum 2025: Cambodia Pushes for Stronger Water Governance
Cambodia’s Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology, H.E. Thor Chetha, led a high-level delegation to participate in the 3rd Mekong-Korea International Water Forum 2025, held in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, under the theme “Enhancing Climate Resilience and Sustainable Water Management.”
According to an official statement from the ministry released on Monday, the two-day forum took place on March 24–25 and was jointly organized by Korea’s Ministry of Environment and the Mekong-Korea Water Centre (KOMEC). The event served as a platform for addressing pressing issues related to water management and climate resilience while promoting regional cooperation and partnerships for sustainable development in the Mekong region.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Thor Chetha reaffirmed Cambodia’s strong commitment to the sustainable management of water resources and meteorological services. He outlined the ministry’s strategic vision to ensure long-term water security in support of sustainable development across all sectors. The minister emphasized Cambodia’s proactive engagement in strengthening transboundary water governance and fostering regional cooperation to achieve shared prosperity, environmental sustainability, and long-term stability.
He also underscored Cambodia’s readiness to deepen collaboration with the Republic of Korea, fellow Mekong countries, and other international partners in pursuit of common development goals and high-level cooperation.
The Mekong-Korea International Water Forum (MKWF) is a key initiative that fosters water-related collaboration between Korea and the five Mekong nations: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Launched in 2022, the forum has convened annually—first in Seoul, then Incheon in 2023, and most recently in Daejeon in 2025—demonstrating continued efforts to promote sustainable water management and climate resilience in the region.
