As with the other regional consultations, it is clear that the debate about dams and the wider development questions that they pose is very much alive in this vibrant part of the world. The presentations have clearly identified that lessons from the past are being learnt and new policies are responding to this. The extent and pace of such change, the political will, and local capacity to implement emerging policies have become the focus of attention.

The diversity of experiences between and within countries of the region has been striking. Countries like Vietnam have recently embarked upon a new period of development and faces the challenges of meeting high expectations from its rapidly growing population while honouring its commitments to environmental sustainability and social welfare. The consultation heard that other countries like Japan and Korea face new challenges inherent in a shift from supply side approaches to demand side management. The Malaysian presenters highlighted some of the real challenges facing implementation of hydropower and irrigation projects. It was made clear that Commission needs to take heed of the complexities that lie behind the acceptable faces of words such as participation, equity, accountability and sustainability.

Honest statements and heartfelt recommendations were made by panellists in the spirit of open exchange that has been encouraged throughout the WCDs work. As with the other consultations, there were many new things learnt as well as new perspectives on well known issues. Some speakers coined some interesting new phrases which will remind the Commission of the meeting - "the forest is a supermarket", "to dam and not be damned" and "dams with a difference" - also a new meaning for EIA - "Early, Integrated and Always".

Much of the experience presented here will assist the Commission in finding the answers that are clearly needed if conflicts that have come to be associated with dams are to be avoided - not everywhere but too often and in too many countries. Central to WCDs work lies the challenge of how societies themselves decide on the development path for the future.

During the two days of the consultation presentations on five broad themes were made:

1. Large Dams and their alternatives in the context of Vietnam

The importance and diversity of water resources across Vietnam and scale of the potential development plans were highlighted by speakers. Electricity growth projections of up to 9% per year, extreme flood events and a large rural population dependent on agriculture were articulated as the driving forces for dam construction in a country striving for rapid development. It was encouraging to hear that policy development has recognised the importance of increasing the efficiency of existing schemes and resolving institutional barriers.

As with other regions, there are real constraints facing implementation of such reforms. Issues related to resettlement and minority groups are an important focus of the Commission's work and the presentations from Vietnam reinforced this - policies are changing, but presenters highlighted the need to ensure that livelihood restoration and development becomes a reality and special efforts are taken to protect the welfare of minority groups.

2. Understanding the impacts of large dams: benefits and costs

The question of how to balance benefits, costs and impacts became a key feature of this session which echoes the discussions the Commission has been having on development effectiveness. How to consider the benefits in terms of hydropower and the environmental and social consequences was raised in the case of Nam Ngum in Lao PDR. Concerns of indigenous groups and those affected by resettlement came to the fore through very personal presentations from the Philippines and Thailand. The value of ecological functions lost with impoundment of the Rasi Salai reservoir provides a valuable input into the Commission's deliberation on the rights of minorities.

From China, a historical perspective of the benefits of irrigation projects was presented including how experiences from the past and known uncertainties can be incorporated in future planning of a project. Block water charging was proposed as an equitable approach that would encourage efficiency. Another factor raised throughout the session includes the lack of public access to planning documents that have limited full debate on the balance between benefits and costs.

3. Decision making and the planning process - responding to competing needs

The theme of sharing benefits and more informed, open decision making continued in the presentations from Japan which included the concept of involving communities in management. Bringing communities into the planning of resettlement was eloquently described from the Beris Dam experience in Malaysia turning a conflict situation into a mutually acceptable package of compensation, land and property. The Denggang campaign in Korea highlighted the process of enabling the general public to express their informed opinion with proponents and opponents making available data on various aspects of the ecology. The presentation on the Bakun dam highlighted the lack of transparency in decision making and compromising the rights of indigenous peoples.

The significantly increasing role of civil society was evident throughout the region, but there were calls for formal recognition and strengthening of regulatory frameworks. Based on analysis of experiences presented from Yunnan province, there was a need expressed for a more comprehensive options assessment process in the context of a wider development perspective. In Korea, the meeting was informed that the growing incidences of floods and droughts in the past decade have forced planners and society in general to explore alternative proposals to deal with flood hazards and drinking water supply.

4. A regional perspective on the Mekong river basin

The institutional arrangement that brought together the four lower riparians of the Mekong basin countries is entering a new era and much attention is focussed on the implementation of the new Agreement and a shift to a broader mandate incorporating environmental and social issues. Perspectives on the developing power sector in the Greater Mekong Subregion varied widely and covered new initiatives for power trading between countries. One view presented is that the days of hydropower are numbered on the basis of the incumbent risks and current trends in project financing and that there is a danger that external financing may promote certain options at the expense of others. The other view is that development of hydropower resources remain an attractive element of a nation's power sector mix. Agreement was apparent on the availability and efficiency improvements in combined cycle gas technology that provides one alternative approach.

Amidst the hydropower discussion, the paper on biodiversity of the wetlands in the lower Mekong Basin highlighted the exceptional significance of the basin and included a plea for a comprehensive strategic environmental impact assessment to assess the cumulative impact of planned dams and greater recognition of biodiversity impacts. Concern was expressed that the extraordinary productivity of the Mekong delta is under threat due to unsustainable economic development. A call for co-ordinated efforts transcending political boundaries to make the Mekong a model for sustainable, equitable, participatory development was clearly articulated by many presenters. The parallel question voiced from the region was whether appropriate ways can be found to replace the flood alleviation, power and irrigation functions of dams.

5. The influence of changing institutional and policy frameworks on current practice.

Examples of wetlands benefits resulting from a more integrated approach to river planning and management now incorporated into the Ramsar convention were highlighted. River basin management remained a theme with the presentation on the Brantas river in Indonesia where the concept of "one river, one plan, one co-ordinating mechanism" was put forward covering allocation, water quality and catchment management. The meeting's attention was focussed on the rise of civil society in Japan and campaigns to return to more traditional and natural river management approaches and consensus driven approaches. A second perspective from Japan argued that dams can be socially acceptable and can resolve conflicts through participation in decision making in the context of a river basin. The "no loser" principle was proposed.

The presentations and exchanges were carefully recorded and the lessons learnt will be consolidated into the overall knowledge base of the Commission from which it will prepare its final report. The Commission members considered it immensely worthwhile to travel to Vietnam to obtain these insights and experiences. There will be other views that the Commission did not hear and the WCD is open to further submissions that clarify, respond or perhaps contradict any presentation made in Hanoi. Time is short though, and such submissions should be made to WCD before the end of March.

In bringing this consultation to a close, the Vice Chair thanked all the presenters for their constructive and passionate inputs to the Commission's process along with the 30 other submissions that were submitted. This wealth of experience contributes to the overall information base from which the Commission will develop its recommendations.

The Vice Chair also thanked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and his representative Vice Minister Dr Pham Hong Giang together with Mr Dao Trong Tu and the staff of their ministry for welcoming the Commission so warmly in Hanoi. The Commission was very grateful for this opportunity to hold such an informative and productive consultation in Hanoi. Thanks were offered to the Asian Development Bank and other financial contributors for their support for this meeting and the insights into changes in their policy direction. The assistance provided by Dr Ngyuen Minh Thong, Country Representative of IUCN and the organisational skills of his staff working in the background have also been invaluable to the consultation.

This is the last of the Commission's regional consultations. WCD has now heard approximately 132 presentations directly and received nearly 700 submissions to date. The Commission plans to finalise its discussion on the report in August 2000 ready to be launched in November. These regional consultations have been a key part in our process and the participants were thanked for their participation. The Vice Chair closed with the familiar words of the Chair, Professor Kader Asmal, by wishing all those present a safe journey home "Go well and thank you".