Thediscussion forms part of the first session of the Council for SecurityCooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) Study Group on Water ResourcesSecurity, which began in Hanoi on March 22.

Experts were due toassess the factual utilisation and management of water resources in theregion and examine security impacts of the work in various spheres inconcerned countries.

At the two-day session, they are scheduledto listen to legal specialists’ opinions on international legalfoundations and the building of international mechanisms on theutilisation and management of water resources.

They are expectedto put forward concrete proposals to promote regional countries’cooperation to ensure water resources security, which requires joint,proactive solutions from both developed and developing countries aroundthe world.

In Southeast Asia – which houses the world’s largestrice granaries, the majority of the population depends largely on waterresources taken from rivers and lakes, many of which have been seriouslydamaged by nature as well as human activity.

The damage has notonly threatened water resources security but also created complexsecurity concerns for nations that are directly concerned and challengedthe future of sustainable development in Southeast Asia.

Thenext sessions of the study group – which was set up by CSCAP underVietnam’s initiative – are expected to take place in Cambodia, Thailandand Japan in 2011 and 2012.

At the meetings, study groups willdiscuss concrete measures to promote regional cooperatio𓃲n and compilethe group’s Memorandum of Understanding to be presented to offici🐟aldiplomatic channels for approval./.