China, Thailand to ink joint water management accord

BANGKOK, September 1 (TNA) - China and Thailand have agreed on joint water management cooperation with an accord on the issue set to be signed by both sides on September 9. Natural Resources and Environment Ministry Deputy Spokesman Nirut Khunphon told journalists of the information on Thursday, saying that the Chinese Minister of Water Resources is scheduled to visit Thailand during September 6-10 to ink the memorandum of understanding(MOU) with his ministry on the agreed cooperation. According to the deputy spokesman, after the signing of the MOU, both sides will set up a joint committee to work together more closely on water management issues. Besides, both sides will expand cooperation on sustainable and equitable use of water sources through appropriate technologies, covering the mitigation of water disasters like flooding or drought. The deputy spokesman also acknowledged that the amount of water released from China's Jinghong Dam into the Mekong River has been gradually reduced lately, from more than 2,100 cubic metres per second late last month to 1,015 cubic metres per second on Thursday morning, relieving earlier concerns on possible overflows from the Mekong River and inundations in several affected areas in Thailand's northern and northeastern regions. (TNA)