Thailand

The Asia Foundation and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have jointly organized a series of Mekong-Australia Policy Dialogues (MAPD), designed to facilitate the creation and exchange of policy ideas toward a fuller and more sustainable realization of the Mekong River and its subregion’s economic potential. With a focus on the five lower riparian states, which collectively make up the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the dialogues aim to provide policy options that foster a collaborative and mutually beneficial approach between and among countries. They allow for constructive discussion of a broad set of perspectives and priorities—including from ACMECS development partners like Australia—consistent with the traditional “Mekong Spirit.”