Growing Together and Stronger for People, Partnership and Prosperity in the Mekong River Basin 5th Summit 2025 Register Now 2-5 April 2026, Bangkok, Thailand

Overview

The MRC Summit, convened by the four Prime Ministers of the Mekong River Commission (MR.C) Member Countries, is the highest political forum of the MRC where outcomes of cooperation are assessed, and directions set for the following years. It is held every four years, usually in April, the month of the signing of the 1995 Mekong Agreement.

The First Summit was held in 2010 in Hua Hin, hosted by Thailand; the Second in Ho Chi Minh City in 2014, hosted by Viet Nam; the Third in Siem Reap in 2018, hosted by Cambodia, and hosted by Lao PDR, the Fourth in Vientiane in 2023.

Thailand is the host for the Fifth MRC Summit in 2026.

The Summit theme is “Growing Together and Stronger for People, Partnership and Prosperity in the Mekong River Basin”, which deliberates a commitment to inclusive and sustainable development through collaborative action, placing people at the center and striving for mutual benefit and shared prosperity through climate adaptation and mitigation, forecasting information for community, community and adaptation, and “voices from the youth”.

People at the core, improving the resilience and well-being of individuals and communities.

Strengthened Partnership with Basin-wide countries and other stakeholders for joint efforts to promote the sustainable development of the entire Mekong River Basin.​

Prosperity as a shared goal of increased connectivity, enhanced trade, and inclusive economic growth across the entire Mekong region.​

Funding

The MRC is funded by contribution from its member countries

Development Partners

The MRC’s Development Partners (DP) are multilateral and bilateral funding organisations that provide financial support to the organisation. They are an important asset in a number of respects:

  • As a key source of funding for mission-critical activities
  • As a source of support for priority-setting led by MRC’s Member Countries and subsequent implementation
  • As a channel to relay both MRC recommendations to stakeholders and stakeholder feedback to the MRC
  • Contribution to organisational performance and accountability for usage of DP funds

Partner Organisations

5th MRC International Conference Programme

Agenda for the 5th MRC International Conference

Conference master of ceremony and co-facilitators:

Mr. Santi Baran- Chief Strategy and Partnership Officer, Mekong River Commission Secretariat, Lao PDR

Day One: Thursday, 2 April 2026

08:00 Registration
09:00 Welcome remarks (5’)

  • H.E. Mr. Prasert Jantararuangtong, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairperson of the Thai National Mekong Committee, Member of the MR.C Council for Thailand

Opening remarks (10’)

  • Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok 

Message about the International Conference (10’)

  • Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Chief Executive Officer, Mekong River Commission Secretariat
09:25 Conference Objective and Structure 

  • Mr. Santi Baran, Chief Strategy and Partnership, Mekong River Commission Secretariat
09:30 Keynote 1: Opening Keynote Address: Science to Solutions: Advancing Basin Management Through Data, Models, and Policy 

Professor Taikan Oki, Professor, University of Tokyo, and 2024 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate 

 

Keynote 2: Youth’s Perspectives on Climate, Health, and River Resilience

Sabrina Rashid Sheonty, 2024 International Water Association Young Leadership Award
10:00 Questions and answers, and discussion with the two keynote speakers, and MR.CS CEO Busadee Santipitaks– facilitated by TBC (30’)
10:30 Coffee Break

Brief Tour of Conference Exhibition for Minister, Governor, Joint Committee Members, and MR.CS CEO 

By Mr. Santi Baran, Chief Strategy and Partnership Officer
11:00 Plenary Session I: Building a Resilient, Self-Sustained Mekong Institution, and Proactive Management of Mekong Governance Tools 

  • MRC’s journey toward self-financing and financial governance, institutional efficiency and Member Countries’ ownership, Speaker
  • Role of external financing, green funds, and the private sector Speaker
  • Transforming MRC Procedures into operational systems, enhancing legal and institutional framework Speaker
  • Coordinating hydropower flows, early warnings, and risk management Speaker
11:45 Questions and answers, and discussion with the four keynote speakers – facilitated by TBC (30’)
12:15 Lunch Break 

Parallel-Round1

(Room #01)

Chair: CNMC

Facilitator: TBC

(Room #02)

Chair: LNMC

Facilitator: TBC

(Room #03)

 

Chair: TNMC

Facilitator: TBC
14:55 Closure of Sessions 1A, 1B, and 1C by respective session chairs in each room (5’)
15:00 Coffee Break 

Parallel-Round2

1D: Youth-led innovations in river monitoring and climate action

1E: Presentation of MR.C Youth Challenge winners

Chair: MRC

Facilitator: TBC:

1F. Roundtable with young researchers and community leaders
16:55 Closure of Sessions 1D, 1E, 1F and 1G by respective session chairs in each room (5’)
17:00 Closure of Day One
18:30 – 20:00 Reception for International Conference (open to all delegates), hosted by the Chief Executive Officer of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat

Day Two: Friday, 3 April 2026

09:00

Summary of Day 1 and Opening of Day 2 (Room #01)

Facilitator: TBC 
09:15

Plenary Session III: Joint Transboundary Projects for Tangible Impact 

Facilitator: Mr. Santi Baran | Rapporteurs: MR.CS staff

  • Joint initiatives in fisheries, flood control, and drought adaptation, Speaker
  • Community-centered development solutions, Speaker
  • Examples from pilot projects and lessons learned, Speaker

 
10:00 Questions and answers, and discussion with the four keynote speakers – facilitated by Mr. Santi Baran (30’)
10:30 Coffee break (30’)

Panel Session: Innovating for the River – Data, AI, and Integrated Forecasting

11:00 Panel Session: Innovating for the River – Data, AI, and Integrated Forecasting

(Room #01)

 

Chair: TBC

Facilitator: TBC

 

  • Modernizing flood forecasting tools, Speaker
  • Using AI for flood forecasting and water quality monitoring, Speaker
  • Partnering with academia and private sector, Speaker

 

Moderated Panel Discussion (Q&A) (20′)

Questions from the facilitator and the audience

 

Concluding remarks and close:

Chair (5’)

 

Rapporteurs: MRCS Staff
11:30 Reflections from the leaders of river basin organizations and partners

  • Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Chief Executive Officer, Mekong River Commission Secretariat
  • DPs Representative 
  • Dr. Chanika Srithep, ASEAN Water Resources Committee
  • Ms. Hnin Yu, Mekong Youth Council
12:00 Conference Key Messages and Closing Session (10’)

Reflecting on the key insights, commitments, and partnerships formed throughout the conference, the session emphasizes the importance of sustained regional cooperation, inclusive partnerships, and shared prosperity in achieving the vision of a resilient, equitable, and thriving Mekong Basin for all.

  • Key messages from the International Conference to the Ministerial Meeting and the Summit by Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Chief Executive Officer, Mekong River Commission Secretariat
  • Closing remarks by JC Chair 

Side Events

  • Mekong Youth Innovation Showcase
  • Community Knowledge Marketplace featuring tools, local products, and resilience stories

Sister River Dialogue with other basin organizations
12:20 Lunch

Side Events

  • Mekong Youth Innovation Showcase
  • Community Knowledge Marketplace featuring tools, local products, and resilience stories
  • Sister River Dialogue with other basin organizations

FLOOR PLAN

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PREVIOUS SUMMIT

Four Mekong leaders at the First MRC Summit in Hua Hin

1st Summit

Mekong leaders at the Second MRC Summit in Ho Chi Minh City

2nd Summit

The third Summit, which focused on the theme ‘Enhancing Joint Efforts and Partnerships towards Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Mekong River Basin‘, was hosted by the Kingdom of Cambodia and held on 5 April 2018 following a preparatory Ministerial Meeting on 4 April and an International Conference of stakeholders on 2-3 April 2018.

3rd Summit

Link to page 4th Summit

4th Summit

SECTORS MENU IN DETAIL