Laos will host the fourth Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in its capital Vientiane from April 2 to April 5.

The summit is the commission's highest-level political event to discuss topics related to the latest knowledge and innovative solutions to the preservation of the Mekong River, Lao News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith on Wednesday chaired a meeting to discuss preparations for the fourth MRC Summit and the preceding International Conference.

According to the Commission, the summit signifies the strongest political commitment of member countries to Mekong cooperation under the MRC framework.

It gathers the heads of governments of member countries and political leaders from Dialogue Partners and development partners to review Mekong cooperation and provide strategic directions.

Attached to the Summit is the MRC International Conference, which attracts global and regional experts in the fields of water and related resources, energy, food, transport, transboundary rivers, river basin management, governance and development, to discuss the latest knowledge and innovative solutions to issues facing the Mekong and other river basins.

The MRC, an intergovernmental organization established in 1995 following the Mekong Agreement among Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, serves as a regional platform for Mekong-related cooperation and knowledge sharing.