The Mekong Sub-region Dynamic Cooperation for Prosperity Security and Sustainability

The Mekong River has played an important role in the riparian countries’ development. However, recent economic development and high population pressure, the lack of proper water resources management, and the lack of cooperation amongst riparian countries have resulted in rising complications in various non-traditional security issues.  Together with that, regional cooperation in the Mekong Basin has become increasingly dynamic in recent years with the emergence of new mechanisms and the reshuffling of existing ones. During the 1990s, Mekong cooperative efforts were primarily confined to the riparian countries. However, over the past ten years, as a result of its strategic location and growth potential, the Mekong Basin region has attracted the attention of major powers and developmental partners, including the United States, China, Japan, India and the European Union. The cooperative mechanisms both among riparian countries and with external partners have provided platforms for discussion of regional issues, especially water resource management, economic development and integration into the regional and global markets, regional connectivity, and addressing common challenges.

The book "The Mekong Sub-region Dynamic Cooperation for Prosperity Security and Sustainability" consists of 10 chapters which analyze the regional context, non-traditional security challenges in the region, the roles of the various cooperative mechanisms with both among the riparian countries and with partners, including the major powers - the US and China, and other middle powers, to the security and development of the subregion; the importance of the sub region to ASEAN and coordination among the mechanisms. 

• Chapter 1: The context of the Mekong sub-region since the end of the Cold War
• Chapter 2: Non-traditional security issues in the Mekong subregion
• Chapter 3: The Mekong River Commission and its vital role in protecting the river
• Chapter 4: The Greater Mekong Subregion Cooperation vision of an integrated, prosperous and equitable subregion
• Chapter 5: The role of intra-subregional cooperation mechanisms in meeting the development needs of the region
• Chapter 6: Middle powers as Partners in the development of Mekong subregion
• Chapter 7: China: Major power and river upstream country
• Chapter 8: US and its engagement in the Mekong subregion
• Chapter 9: The Mekong and its importance for ASEAN

• Chapter 10: Efficient cooperation for the sustainability, prosperity and  security in the Mekong Subregion

The book is written in Vietnamese and is aimed for both academic circles, government officers, practitioners, students and general audience who are interested in learning more about the Mekong subregion.