Lao PDR has the honor to host the 7^th Mekong-Ganga Ministerial Meeting at the National Convention Center, Vientiane Capital, on July 24, 2016. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr. Saleumxay KOMMASITH, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Among the attendees were Foreign Ministers and Delegation of Mekong Countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam) and India.

The Meeting highly valued the progress made during the past years, particularly, cooperation on the Human Resources Development that India has been providing over 900 annual scholarships under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme to the CLMV Countries. The MGC is implementing 20 Quick Impact Projects including 3 projects in Laos. In addition, the Meeting also discussed on future direction; especially, the expansion to include new areas of cooperation, namely, SME cooperation, Conservation of Rice Germ Plasm, Health and Pandemics Management.

The meeting adopted two important documents namely: Joint Ministerial Statement for the 7^th Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Ministerial Meeting and the Plan of Action to implement Mekong Ganga Cooperation (2016-2018). These two outcome documents will set the way forward to implement the MGC cooperation.

           The 8^th Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Ministerial Meeting will be convened in the Republic of Philippines in 2017, which will be chaired by the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.