Background

The 1st ASEM Sustainable Development Dialogue (ASEMSDD1) was hosted by Hungary in 2012 in Budapest, focusing on the “Role of Water in Sustainable Regional Development Strategies”. The ASEMSDD is for sharing experience and best practices between macro-regional development strategies such as the Danube Region Strategy or the Mekong Region to provide additional benefits for the subregional initiatives by significantly strengthening interregional co-operation capacities.

The 8th ASEM Sustainable Development Dialogue (ASEMSDD8) was held on 19-20 September 2019, in Siem Reap City, Kingdom of Cambodia . It was hosted by the Cambodia National Mekong Committee (CNMC), an Inter-Ministerial Institution of the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia for coordinating the sustainable management and development of the Mekong River Basin, in cooperation with its key member line agencies.

Overall Objectives

The theme wass “Enhancing Water Partnership Towards Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth”. The overall objectives include:

1. Exchanging knowledge, experiences and best practices within the ASEM framework on key policy areas such as population dynamics, water, food, energy security and climate change;
2. Enhancing continued engagement in the bi-regional cooperation between the Danube and Mekong regions, especially in transforming shared challenges related to transboundary water management into opportunities for inclusive growth and sustainable development; and
3. Strengthening opportunities for public and private partnership, North-South and South-South Partnership for sustainable and inclusive development and achieving related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Thematic Areas

• Topic 1: Key drivers and stress on the river basins’ natural and social systems – e.g. population growth, urbanization, water, food, energy, climate change and governance
• Topic 2: Transboundary River Basin Management: e.g. cases of flood, water scarcity and drought management, monitoring quality and quantity of surface and groundwaters due to demand changes and climate conditions.
• Topic 3: Public and private partnership, North-South and South-South Partnership for sustainable and inclusive development and achieving related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Topic 4: Science and Technology for Water Resources Management and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Expected Outcomes

1. Knowledge, experiences and best practices within the ASEM framework on key policy areas such as population dynamics, water, food, energy security and climate change are openly and constructively discussed and key areas for further exchange are identified and promoted.
2. Continued engagement in the bi-regional cooperation between the Danube and Mekong regions, especially in transforming shared challenges related to transboundary water management into opportunities for inclusive growth and sustainable development, are openly and constructively discussed and key areas for further exchange are identified and enhanced.
3. Opportunities for public and private partnership, North-South and South-South Partnership for sustainable and inclusive development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are identified and promoted.

For more event information, read the news relased by the Mekong River Commission (MRC) under “Useful Links”, or read Facebook posts shared by the Cambodia National Mekong Committee and the Ministry of Planning of Cambodia.