4 Feb 2026 by The Water Diplomat | photo: Rémy Kinna
At a time of growing urgency to accelerate cooperation over shared waters, the first Pan‑Asian Water Law Training, held in Bangkok from 8–11 December 2025, brought together over 100 participants from governments, civil society, academia, and development partners. Organised by the UN Water Convention Secretariat with the support of numerous partners, the training aimed to build regional capacity in applying international water law, negotiating transboundary agreements, and advancing climate‑resilient water governance. Through expert presentations, panels, group work, and a negotiation simulation, the programme linked legal frameworks to real‑world decision‑making while fostering trust and regional dialogue.
Remy Kinna, Legal Officer with the UN Water Convention Secretariat, described the training as a long‑held vision made possible by the Convention’s expanding reach, noting the former’s unique role in connecting international water law experts with practitioners already working on transboundary challenges across Asia. Representatives of Finland, the coming co-chair for Interactive Dialogue (d) on Water for Cooperation at the UN 2026 Water Conference, expressed pleasure at being among the partners and support such an important training and the Conventions in general.
Rooted in regional case studies, the training enabled practical problem‑solving and peer exchange. Dr Nguyen Duc Tuan, Chief Technical Advisor for IUCN Mekong, noted that the training was highly relevant to the ongoing Viet Nam–Lao PDR GEF transboundary water project, providing essential “entry points” for drafting a cooperation agreement. Drawing directly on the training materials, such as the the UN Water Convention’s Practical Guide for the Development of Agreements or Other Arrangements for Transboundary Water Cooperation, his team prepared a draft MOU on water cooperation, which was presented at a bilateral vice‑ministerial meeting in December 2025.
