Cambodia and Laos have agreed to cooperate in the reduction of plastic pollution along the Mekong River, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The MoU on Cooperation on Environment and Plastic Pollution Reduction along the Mekong River was inked here on the afternoon of Sept. 12 between H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment of Cambodia, and visiting H.E. Phouvong Luangxaysana, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources of Laos.

The signing ceremony took place on the occasion of the 6th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Ministers’ Meeting on Environment (EMM-6) held in Phnom Penh from Sept. 10-13, 2024, the Ministry of Environment pointed out.

‘This MoU between the environment ministries of Cambodia and Laos is intended to expand the campaign to reduce plastic usage further and make the Mekong River free of plastics,’ said H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth.

H.E. Minister added, ‘It is the first step and goal of Cambodia and Laos as well’ after Cambodia has launched its Circular Strategy on
Environment under the three pillars: Clean, Green and Sustainable. Last year, Cambodia launched the successful campaign, phase I under the theme of ‘Today, I don’t Use Plastic Bags’ and continued to be successful in the second campaign under the slogan, ‘Clean Cambodia, We Can Do It!’ which leads to environmental cleanliness on land, in water and air.

H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth also stressed that the MoU will play an important part in preventing transboundary forest offenses.

‘The MoU represents a big environmental commitment as a whole but a step-by-step approach is taken; namely to tackle plastic pollution which adversely affects environment along the Mekong River, in the rural and urban areas of both countries,’ explained H.E. Minister.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse