[Paper] Human Resource Cooperation between Yunnan Province and the Mekong Region: Ecological Civilization Leadership Program by Yuwadee Kardkarnklai, Vice President of Klangpanya Institute Presented at Forum on the Human Resources Cooperation The 6th Yunnan Conference on International Exchange of Professionals hosted by Yunnan Provincial Committee of Communist Party of China The People's Government of Yunnan Province

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Human Resource Cooperation between Yunnan Province
and the Mekong Region: Ecological Civilization Leadership Program
Presented to
The Human Resources Cooperation Forum
The 6th Yunnan International Talent Exchange Conference, hosted by Yunnan, China.
By
Ms. Yuwadee Kardkarnklai
Vice President of Klangpanya Institute
Klangpanya Institute, Bangkok Thailand
December 17, 2021
Introduction
This paper mainly aims to study overview of ecological civilization in China, significance
of biodiversity in the Mekong region and Yunnan province and will present recommendations and
conclusion on human resource cooperation for ecological civilization construction in the countries
of the Mekong region.
Recently, there was the convention on biological diversity hosted by Kunming City, the
southwest China's Yunnan Province during 11-24 October 2021 with the theme "Ecological
Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth". It was called the COP15 meeting
and was the first global conference convened by the United Nations highlighting ecological
civilization. It marks as one of the important paces of Ecological Civilization concept, as it has
been accepted internationally.
President Xi Jinping made a keynote speech at this conference. He urged the international
community to use concrete measures to help developing countries. He announced China's initiative
to establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund and take the lead by investing 1.5 billion yuan ($233
million) in the fund which is a critical step to continue promoting global ecological civilization. 1
Xi Jinping's Thought of Ecological Civilization
Xi Jinping pointed out that "people-oriented, the most important is that it cannot destroy the
environment of human existence in the process of development. If the population resource
environment seriously deviates, who can live and work in peace, how can a harmonious society
begin?”
1
Yang Jinghao, Li Yang. 2021. Guests react to President Xi's speech at UN biodiversity conference. CGTN
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-10-13/Guests-react-to-President-Xi-s-speech-at-UN-biodiversity-conference-
14jYluhEgqA/index.html

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He stressed that economic development "Cannot be sacrificed for the ecological
environment". The Contents of Xi Jinping's Thought of Ecological Civilization are very rich.2
For
example:
1. The ecological economic view of "Green water and Green Mountain are golden hill and
silver mountain".
2. Ecological and political view of "satisfying the people's new expectation of good
ecological environment".
3. The ecological social view of "human, natural and social harmonious symbiosis".
4. The view of the ecological system of "The strictest system, the strictest rule of law".
Guided economic and social sustainable development by Xi Jinping's Thought of Ecological
Civilization
To carry out Xi Jinping's Thoughts on Ecological Civilization and to guide the sustainable
development of economy and society with the construction of ecological civilization, we must do
the following five aspects. 3
1. Protection first, scientifically demarcate and adhere to the ecological protection red line
2. Adhere to the rule of law and strengthen the legal guarantee of ecological civilization
construction
3. Innovation-driven and enhancing the scientific and technological support of ecological
civilization construction
4. Adhere to the system thinking and improve the top-level design of ecological environment
management system
5. Insist on taking the people as the base and advocate the emergence of a new cultural
movement for the whole people's ecological civilization
China are taking the lead on Ecological civilization
Ecological civilization is a philosophy proposed by China. The concept has been promoted
for balanced and sustainable development that features the harmonious coexistence of man and
nature. President Xi Jinping has indicated that “the construction of ecological civilization is a great
plan for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation”.4
Having conducted the environment protection for a while, China’s efforts are a reflection
of Xi's idea on sustainable development. There are gradually prominent examples of domestic
actions for green development, green finance, green economy, circular economy, low-carbon
economy, ecological redlining, ecological restoration and construction, green urbanization,
climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable development, and fighting against
2
Pan Xiang-chao .2018. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 153 062067
3
Ibid.
4
19th CPC National Congress.

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pollutions. These are shifts and investments toward ecological civilization already well underway
during the 12th
and, especially, the 13th five year plan.5
China's progress, especially in the restoration of rivers and lakes, are mostly implemented
through measures that are part of ecological civilization. China has made progress in protecting
many scarce species which are important to biodiversity. The great progress made by China has
affected not only China but also the region and the rest of the world. At the same time, it needs a
new way of thinking of cohabitation between nature and human beings.
As mentioned above, we can see that China is taking the lead and is an example to provide
solutions on global biodiversity with the concept of ecological civilization. The COP15 conference
allows China to share with the rest of the world about what has been done on conservation and
protection of biodiversity.
For this reason, I would like to purpose that China should take this opportunity to support
the regional natural resources and ecological system, share its experience and lessons in protecting
biodiversity, respond to climate crises, and manage natural resources with countries in the Mekong
region, as it is a vulnerable area. Besides, the biological and ecological systems in this region are
degrading very rapidly.
The Mekong region: its natural abundance and significance of biodiversity
Mekong River is the longest one in Southeast Asia, its length is ranked the 8th
in the world.
The Mekong River flows a very long distance which passes through the 6 countries of China
(Qinghai and Yunnan Provinces), Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
In China, there are headstreams of three of the world’s great rivers including the Yangtze,
Mekong, and Salween flow in proximity, and this geography is known as the “Three Parallel
Rivers.” The Mekong River then enters Laos, flows along the border of Myanmar and Laos, and
then after flowing along the Thai-Laos border, enters Cambodia where it connects with the Tonle
Sap Lake, a symbol of Cambodia. It then enters Vietnam, where it is known as “Nine Dragons
River.” The Mekong Delta in Vietnam is one of the world’s largest rice production areas, and from
there, the Mekong flows into the South China Sea. 6
The Mekong River originates with melting snow from the Himalayas. Water from the
river’s catchment area in China makes 16% of the river’s flow, and Myanmar 2%, Laos 35%,
5
Khan, Shahbaz, quoted in Zhang Hui 2021. China takes lead on global biodiversity solutions with ecological
civilization: UNESCO representative. Global Time. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202110/1236354.shtml.
6
Mekong River Commission (MRC). 2005. Overview of the Hydrology of the Mekong Basin.
http://www.mekonginfo.org/assets/midocs/0001968-inland-waters-overview-of-the-hydrology-of-the-mekong-
basin.pdf

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Thailand 18%, Cambodia 18%, and Vietnam 11%. It is home to thousands of plant and animal
species, with more to be discovered. Accordingly, it is considered as one of the richest areas of
biodiversity in the world.
At present, the ecological stability of the delta and the livelihoods of people living along
the river is threatened. With its high pace of development and changing landscapes, it is ranked in
the fifth area of the world which being threatened by humans.7
The population of the Lower
Mekong Basin has doubled over the past 30 years. It is forecasted that the population in this area
will increase another 30% to 50% by 2025. With the rapid growth of world’s human population
and expedited consumption of natural resources, biological diversity will continue to decline and
species will continue to extinct if there is no effective and rational management and reserving
structure that considers both conservation purpose and environment related to human.
The World Bank’s report marks inequalities in income and poverty at the international and
interregional levels. More than half of the population of Lao PDR and Cambodia live below the
PPP (purchasing power parity) US$2-a-day poverty line, compared with less than one-fifth of the
population in Thailand. More significantly, in Thailand, more than half of the country’s total poor
population of a little over 7 million are concentrated in the northeast region; in Lao PDR and
Vietnam, the poor are disproportionately concentrated in upland areas and among ethnic
minorities, while in all the countries of the GMS (Greater Mekong Subregion), poverty is to a large
extent a rural phenomenon. 8
Yunnan Province and the upstream of Mekong River
Yunnan Province is a global biodiversity hotspot. Located in southwestern PRC, it supports
over 50% of the PRC’s vascular plant and vertebrate fauna species, 16% of its endemic flora, and
73% of its priority protected animals (243 of 335 species). 9
Most importantly, the province encompasses parts of the headwaters and lower reaches of
six major rivers: the Dulong (Irrawaddy), Lancang (Mekong), Nu Jiang (Salween), Jinsha
(Changhong), Hong (Red), and Nanpan (Pearl). These extend for over 1,000 km, through other
provinces in the PRC and the downstream nations of Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic
Republic (Lao PDR), Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
As part of the GMS, Yunnan shares over 4,000 km of international borders with Myanmar,
Lao PDR, and Vietnam. These transboundary areas and rivers support globally significant
7
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. “Indo-Burma Hotspot.” Accessed 8 April 2015.
http://www.cepf.net/resources/hotspots/Asia-Pacific/Pages/Indo-Burma.aspx.
8
Jonathan Rigg and Chusak Wittayapak.2009. Chapter 6 Spatial integration and human transformations in the
Greater Mekong subregion. Reshaping Economic Geography in East Asia – 2009. Edited by Yukon Huang and
Alessandro Magnoli Bocchi. World Bank.
9
Mekong River Commission (MRC). 2005.

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wetlands and forests and provide critical ecosystem services to over 100 million people. Yunnan
has a critical role in maintaining regional forest and water resources for subregion.
To avoid natural resource loss and degradation from intensive economic development
Mekong region as is happening elsewhere, all countries in the Mekong region must take their
responsibility to protect biodiversity in the area where they live. It is a mutual undeniable task.
This is the decade of promoting sustainable development, it's the right time for various
parties to build a shared future for all. Therefore, human resources cooperation is necessary for
protecting biodiversity in this area.
Recommendation for Human Resource Cooperation with Ecological Civilization Leadership
Program
As there is growing interest in the ecological civilization from the part of some international
organizations and countries, but it is rarely found interest in the Mekong Region. While the
ecological civilization plays a crucial role in the regional and global levels, I hope that the
leadership of China should apply ecological civilization concept to preserve environment in the
Mekong region. It is an area where we take benefits from the ecosystem.
The ecological civilization’s capacity can be used in our Mekong region to create synergies
in order to accelerate action on UNSDG 2030 goals at global and national levels and enhance
outcomes under the other environment and development conventions.
We should create platform for ecological civilization-oriented Mekong region initiatives
which provide a channel for developing human resource cooperation. Human resources are the
main factor determining innovation and success of the development in our region, as human has
ability to design long-term strategies. At the same time, the conservation of regional biodiversity
increasingly relies on the network of international cooperative protected areas.
Therefore, it can be assumed that improvement of human resources is a very important set
of conditions determining biodiversity conservation and green development, which should be
perceived as prioritized issue, especially in the context of globalization, international integration
and inter-regional cooperation.
We hope to deepen human resource cooperation, accelerate the pace of sustainable
development, and promote the development of ecological civilization in the Mekong region.
Ecological Civilization Leadership Program should be initiated with aiming to create a
sustainable network of leaders among the countries of the Mekong Region by providing a common
space for the sharing of leadership tools as well as igniting new ideas and initiatives of Ecological

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Civilization. This will lead to the successful management of Ecological Civilization leadership
network in the region and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.
The targeted participants of this program should be young generation leaders in the
Mekong region from different sectors including civil society, government sector and private sector.
The young generation today will become leaders in the future of Asia. They should be cultivated
by ecological civilization which is the eastern wisdom.
The major cooperation areas which are needed in the Mekong region for human resource
development are; 1. Energy 2. Infrastructure 3. Industry 4. Cultural and Tourism 5. Agriculture
and Rural Development 6. Science and Technology 7. Transport 8. Skill development 9.
Environment 10. Information and communication Technology and 11. Non-traditional Security
Challenges and etc.
Conclusion
Ecological civilization is a set of values and development concepts, and now a key driver in
China’s transition to high quality development for the “New Era”10
. It is simultaneously a
philosophy, vision, and compass for a green and prosperous future.
From my perspective, China should engage in information exchange and sharing of lessons
learned among countries in the Mekong region with the mutual respect. I believe that china’s
experiences can stimulate our cooperation and development in the way to achieve the goal of living
in harmony with nature in an appropriate manner to different national contexts. Such approach
could contribute to the co-design for sustainable development on this valuable area. Finally, China
should intensively consider on human resource cooperation with countries in the Mekong region
to make an excellent regional example of Ecological Civilization construction.
…………………………………..
10
Pan Xiang-chao. 2018.