(KPL/Yonhap) The science ministry said Monday it has completed an assistance program aimed at providing smart water management solutions to Southeast Asian countries along the Mekong River to address climate change challenges by harnessing Republic of Korea's advanced technologies.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said it has transferred the operation of the facility built in southern Vietnam to the Vinh Long provincial government as part of the program on Monday, completing the project launched in 2021 with a budget of US$4 million.

The project, conducted with the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, was launched to address challenges faced by countries along the Mekong River -- Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia -- amid climate change and rapid economic development.

The initiative, named People's Livelihoods Innovation through Nexus in the Mekong Region (P-LINK), aims to address the region's water shortages by harnessing Republic of Korea's advanced technologies, according to the ministry.

Under the project, Vietnam was provided with a stable water supply in areas facing difficulties securing drinking water due to saltwater intrusion, while Thailand acquired a smart water management system with improved efficiency.

In Laos, Republic of Korea introduced an artificial intelligence (AI)-based flood warning system, and Cambodia received a renewable energy-powered water treatment system, the ministry said.

"The project is significant in that Republic of Korea contributed to global sustainable development and offered solutions to problems faced by countries in the Mekong River region using science and technology," Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said.

KPL