Current Issues and Perspectives on Water Resources Management in Mekong River Basin : Considering the Relation between Chain and Countries in Lower Mekong Basin

The objective of this paper is to consider some issues of MRC, which is an important actor in the Mekong River basin, and to command the future relation between upper China and four lower countries over water resources of the Mekong River.First, this paper reviews the past development of MRCʼs programs and relation between China.and MRC Second, this article clarifies the difference between two IWRM approaches and some issues on water resources management by MRC.As for two kinds of IWRM approaches, one is emphasized by MRC as a basis of programs, and the other has been argued academically.The issue on MRC is the necessity of the unified management of the Mekong River basin, and namely of the integration of China into water resources management.Finally, this paper considers the relationship between China and lower countries over water resources of the Mekong River in terms of international relation theories.This article also presents the vision of water resources management of the Mekong River basin.