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The report examines how trade policies and climate change impact food security in mainland Southeast Asia, specifically the Mekong region. Using Cambodia as a case study, it argues that food security must be addressed holistically and with a long-term vision, warning against trade protectionism in favor of regional integration through the WTO, ASEAN, and the Greater Mekong Subregion forum.

The document examines China's 'Going Global' strategy to secure natural resources, highlighting its focus on bauxite in the Mekong region. It details the roles of major Chinese firms like Chinalco and Chalco, the regulatory challenges in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, and the significant energy and environmental risks associated with aluminum smelting and mining, particularly the threat of red mud contamination in transboundary river basins.

The policy brief examines China's increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade in the Mekong region, driven by its domestic demand for natural resources. It highlights the role of Chinese state-owned enterprises and financial institutions in filling an investment vacuum left by international financial institutions. While noting the potential for economic growth, the document warns of environmental and social risks due to poor regulatory enforcement and the lack of adherence to international sustainability standards by Chinese firms.

The document analyzes China's strategic drive to secure natural resources in the Mekong region to support its rapid economic growth. It details the role of state-backed financing through entities like China Exim Bank and Sinosure in facilitating investments in mining, hydropower, and agriculture. The brief highlights a pattern of resource extraction where raw materials are exported to China while finished goods are sold back to the region. It also notes the environmental and social risks associated with these projects, such as deforestation and displacement, and the lack of adherence to international sustainability standards like the Equator Principles.

This policy brief examines China's expanding economic role in the Mekong region, specifically its investments in natural resources, energy, and infrastructure in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. It highlights China's strategic shift toward securing foreign resources to fuel its domestic industrial growth and the resulting environmental and social challenges in host countries.

SUMERNET PLUS is a transboundary programme running from July 2025 to December 2029, funded by 54 million SEK from the Swedish Government. It aims to link evidence-based research with policymakers and marginalized groups to improve climate resilience in the Mekong Region. The programme focuses on three key themes: nexus interactions and trade-offs among sectors like water and energy, building socio-ecological resilience, and supporting just sustainable transitions. To achieve these goals, it will provide 34 grants ranging from SEK 150,000 to 2,000,000, conduct capacity building for various stakeholders, and facilitate policy dialogues at regional forums such as the Mekong River Commission and ASEAN.

The SEI strategy 2025–29 focuses on three impact areas: climate transitions, nature and resources, and health and wellbeing. It introduces 'accelerating implementation' as a new strategic outcome to move faster on global goals. The institute aims to pursue innovative research on emerging topics such as critical raw materials, the sustainability of AI, and the intersection of climate transitions and international security, while strengthening its global integration as 'One SEI'.

The MTT Program supports four flagship studies focusing on the water-energy-climate nexus in the Mekong region, with a strong emphasis on gender equality and social inclusion (GEDSI). These include the SOS project on sustainable water storage in Thailand and Lao PDR; the Urban Heat Resilience project addressing urban heat islands in Thailand and Vietnam; the SAGAA project managing the transboundary Cambodia-Vietnam Mekong River Delta aquifer; and the ReTrEAT-Cities project developing participatory energy-neutral coastal retreat planning for cities in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam facing sea-level rise.

The document examines water scarcity in the Mekong Region, highlighting a governance structure often dominated by top-down authority and a lack of enforceable water allocation rights. It notes that urban and industrial needs are typically prioritized over agriculture, leaving vulnerable groups—particularly women and the rural poor—at higher risk. The briefing also discusses the influence of international financial institutions and political motivations on irrigation infrastructure and the projected impacts of climate change, including increased temperature and seasonal rainfall uncertainty, which threaten agricultural productivity and food security.