Rethinking Investments in Natural Resources: China's Emerging Role in the Mekong Region

This policy brief examines China's increasing influence in the agribusiness, hydropower, and mining sectors of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, driven by China's demand for inexpensive natural resources.

• Chinese state-owned enterprises are primary drivers of natural resource extraction in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, dominating hydropower projects, providing capital for agricultural inputs in Cambodia and Laos, and investing in mineral exploitation across all three nations.
• The nature of China's relationship with these three countries varies: China is the top investor in Cambodia and Laos, whereas trade is the primary driver for Vietnam, which is China's largest trading partner.
• While China is attempting to adopt international best practices and green credit policies to improve its global image, many of its state-owned companies in the hydropower and mining sectors maintain poor social and environmental records internationally.

APA

IISD,, H. B. S. W. (2008). Rethinking Investments in Natural Resources: China's Emerging Role in the Mekong Region. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/rethinking-investments-natural-resources-chinas-emerging-role-mekong-region

Chicago

IISD,, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, WWF,. Rethinking Investments in Natural Resources: China's Emerging Role in the Mekong Region. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2008. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/rethinking-investments-natural-resources-chinas-emerging-role-mekong-region.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=IISD, |first1=Heinrich Böll Stiftung, WWF, |title=Rethinking Investments in Natural Resources: China's Emerging Role in the Mekong Region |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=18 December 2008 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/rethinking-investments-natural-resources-chinas-emerging-role-mekong-region |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{iisd2008rethinking, author = {IISD,, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, WWF,}, title = {{Rethinking Investments in Natural Resources: China's Emerging Role in the Mekong Region}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2008}, month = dec, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/rethinking-investments-natural-resources-chinas-emerging-role-mekong-region}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }