Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered remarks at the U.S.-Lower Mekong Ministerial Meeting in Bali, Indonesia, on July 22, 2011. Secretary Clinton said, “…We began this initiative two years ago to give rise to more frequent and effective cooperation among the Lower Mekong countries and the United States.

“We saw many opportunities for effective partnership on issues that impact the people of the region: health, education, infrastructure, environmental protection, water quality, and so much else. And we thought there was value in taking an integrated approach, because all of these issues are connected. If water sources are polluted, health declines; if children are unhealthy, they struggle to learn; if education systems are weak, it affects the success of public health and environmental campaigns. So the initiative reflects the reality of this interconnection.more »