​With the increasing importance of transboundary river water in South and Southeast Asia, hydro-diplomacy can be seen as a new framework for regional cooperation, with opportunities for dialogue, consultation and data-sharing both between and within states. The objective of this conference is to assess the potential for dialogue and future mechansims for multilateral cooperation between three countries sharing important sources of river water: China, India and Bangladesh.

The conference explores the following questions:

How can a comprehensive transboundary river water dialogue be structured?

What lessons can we learn from mechanisms for cooperation on other transboundary rivers, such as the Mekong River Commission?

How useful are international treaties, e.g. the UN Convention on Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (1997)? 

Can civil society stakeholders play a constructive role in multilateral cooperation on transboundary river water management?