The United Nations (UNEP 2002) estimates that worldwide over the last half-century there have been nearly 2000 reported interactions over water conflicts, with 200 resolutions taking the form of treaties and 1228 having signed cooperative events. Among the most well known in Asia are the 1960 treaty between Pakistan and India discussed above, and, in 1996, the Nepal and India Mahakali Treaty and the India and Bangladesh Ganges Water Sharing Treaty as separate bilateral agreements to create mutual trust over the Ganges and other rivers in the region. The MRC is mandated to carry out research and assist in negotiating further agreements among the four principal members - Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand - and the two dialogue partners, China and Myanmar.