Officials from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia on Dec. 8 gathered at the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in the Lao southern province of Atapeu in preparation for the 7 th Conference of the Joint Coordination Committee for the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Development Triangle (CLV).

The meeting evaluated the implementation of commitments reached by Prime Ministers of the three countries at the previous CLV conference and proposed an orientation for future cooperation between provinces in the development triangle.

Participants agreed that the development triangle has registered a number of achievements such as speeding up the growth rate in localities, building and developing infrastructure, upgrading and expanding key regional transport routes and investing in major hydroelectric projects.

However, they pointed out that shortcomings remain in socio-economic, infrastructure and human resource development, and the poverty reduction process.

Delegates underlined the need to create incentives for the region, ensure favourable conditions to attract investment, expand border cooperation and promote connections between localities.

They also agreed to call on Japan to continue aid packages for new projects in the region./.