Building partnerships to realise the potential of theCambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle was the theme of a forum inBuon Ma Thuot City, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak onApril 21.
The event, co-hosted by the Ministry ofPlanning and Investment and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aimed towork out measures to foster the rapid and sustainable development of thetriangle and gradually narrow the gap in the area by maximising thepotential, strengths and resources of each locality.
Italso offered a good chance to enhance economic connections in andoutside the triangle and address social, security-defence andeco-environment protection issues, practically contributing tostrengthening cooperation among the three countries.
Addressing the forum, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressedthat the Governments of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and theauthorities of provinces in the triangle should invest more in transportinfrastructure and create a favourable environment for economicconnectivity.
He suggested the triangle’s countries andlocalities focus on developing agriculture, especially industrial plantssuch as rubber and coffee; infrastructure at border economic zones; andhuman resources training.
The Deputy PM also urgedlocalities in the region to effectively implement a master plan adoptedby the three countries’ Prime Ministers, making their planning part ofthe regional one.
Development must be associated withprotecting the eco-environment, simplifying administrative proceduresand reinforcing border security, he noted.
At the forum,participants also discussed how to reduce poverty and increasecompetitiveness in the triangle as well as policies to attract resourcesfor its development.
Set up in October 2009 under theinitiative of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, theCambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle comprises 13 border provincesof the three nations.-VNA