Leaders of various localities of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand gathered in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum to seek measures to foster their cooperation in the context of the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community at the end of 2015.

Seven Vietnamese localities joining the event included Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai, Da Nang and Hanoi. Representatives from the Lao localities of Champasak, Attapeu and Sekong and the Thai Unon Ratchathani and Sisaket also joined the discussions.

Participants agreed that investment, trade and tourism are the key cooperation focus of the localities, with tourism playing the central role.

The localities were also encouraged to strengthen the exploration of each other’s potential along with engaging in common partnership mechanisms to build new mutually-beneficial bilateral affiliation programmes.

Deputy Governor of Laos’ Attapeu province Kenthong Sysouvong said he believes the cooperation will help boost tourism in all three countries.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province Suraphan Ditxaman said Vietnam, Laos and Thailand are currently facing dramatic changes in the environment and climate, thus the establishment of a closer connection is significant to promote activities for socio-economic, cultural and tourism development.

According to Ta Quy, Deputy Head of the Office of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Lao and Thai localities should roll out more favourable policies for investors and tourists in order to boost investment and tourism collaboration.

He also asked localities of the three countries to work together to foster their partnership, contributing to deepening friendship among the three countries.

Participants passed a Kon Tum Statement defining their determination to work more closely and enhance development cooperation.

They pledged to engage in partnership activities while backing the business community to reinforce collaboration in tourism, trade, investment and human resources training.

They will also consider the expansion of cooperation with the involvement of a fourth country and other financial institutions and organisations while maintaining regular information sharing.

Since 2011, Kon Tum province has initiated and conducted a number of activities to boost bilateral and multilateral cooperation at provincial levels, including the setting up of a tourism route passing through eight provinces in 2012.-VNA