On the morning of April 30, 2024, Dr. Zhang Li, an associate professor at Fudan Institute of Belt and Road & Global Governance, delivered an insightful lecture titled “Water Diplomacy Theory and Strategic Choices of Mekong Countries in the Context of Sino-U.S. Competition” in Room 209 of the Think Tank Building. The lecture was hosted by Professor Ding Chun, Deputy Director of Fudan Institute of Belt and Road & Global Governance.

Dr. Zhang Li first pointed out that water resources are increasingly becoming a "burden" in international relations and have become a key issue in the strategic game between China and the United States in Southeast Asia. On this basis, Dr. Zhang analyzed the evolution of global water diplomacy and innovatively proposed the theory of small state water diplomacy. He believes that based on the internal driving factors, decision-making factors, and external triggering factors of small state water diplomacy, four strategic models of small state water diplomacy have been formed: “autonomous water diplomacy”, “aligned water diplomacy”, “hedged water diplomacy”, and “collective water diplomacy”.

Next, Dr. Zhang analyzed the strategic choices and different responses of Mekong countries' water diplomacy under the Sino-U.S. competition. He pointed out that Thailand is currently actively adopting "autonomous water diplomacy" to strive for water rights and international water prestige. Laos adopts “aligned water diplomacy” by binding its water strategy with China and Thailand. Meanwhile, since 2009, the Mekong countries have collectively adopted "hedged water diplomacy" to seek development in the Sino-U.S. game. After 2016, the Mekong countries further adopted "collective water diplomacy" to maintain their water prestige and leadership on Mekong issues, and to promote the "localization" of the Mekong River Commission and the "ASEANization" of Mekong River issues.

During the comment and Q&A session, Professor Huang Renwei, Executive Deputy Director of Fudan Institute of Belt and Road & Global Governance, and Professor Ding Chun, Deputy Director of Fudan Institute of Belt and Road & Global Governance, respectively made brilliant comments. The participating guests had a lively discussion on this topic.