Senior officials meet in Hanoi ahead of GMS-6
Hanoi (VNA) – The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Senior Officials’ Meeting convened in Hanoi on March 29 in preparation for the upcoming sixth GMS Summit (GMS-6) on March 31.
The meeting was chaired by the host Vietnam and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with the participation of representatives from Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.
[PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs rehearsal for GMS-6, CLV-10]
Senior officials reviewed the last-minute
preparation work and finalised draft documents for submission to GMS leaders.
Participating countries highly valued Vietnam’s
coordination and preparation for the GMS-6.
They mulled over cooperation strategies in
transport, tourism, agriculture and environment.
Reports on the 25-year cooperation of GMS and
GMS e-commerce cooperation will be recorded at the GMS-6.
The host Vietnam thanked GMS member countries
and the ADB for their effective support and close coordination during the
preparation for the GMS-6.
Senior officials from Cambodia, China, Laos,
Myanmar and Thailand highly evaluated the careful preparation of Vietnam and
welcomed the host’s initiatives.
They expressed their belief that the GMS-6 will
be a success.
The GMS-6 and CLV-10 taking place on March 29-31
are among the biggest multilateral events hosted by Vietnam this year.
About 2,000 delegates are expected to attend the
events, including GMS leaders, and representatives from international
organisations such as the President of the ADB, the Director General of the
World Bank (WB), ASEAN Secretary General and representatives of the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA), among others.
Vietnam hosting the two events continues to
affirm the country’s increasing position, as well as its role and contributions
to regional cooperation mechanisms. This is an opportunity for regional leaders
to discuss issues of shared concern on boosting investment cooperation, trade,
ensuring security and using Mekong River water sustainably. It is also a chance
for Vietnam to increase cooperation and connectivity, serving the country’s
socio-economic development.
The sixth Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit,
themed “Leveraging 25 years of cooperation, Building an integrated, sustainable
and prosperous GMS aims to celebrate the 25th founding anniversary of the GMS
Programme and define cooperation orientations to build a region of prosperity,
integration and sustainable development.
GMS was
established in 1992 as an initiative of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The
GMS Programme is the most complete cooperation programme that involves Vietnam,
Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and China’s Yunnan and Guangxi provinces.
Meanwhile,
the CLV-10 aims to review the implementation of the Master Plan for
Socio-Economic Development of the CLV Development Triangle Area for 2010-2020
and discuss cooperation orientations in the coming time, especially seeking to
increase the trilateral economic connectivity.
The CLV Development Triangle Area was
established in 1999, covering Vietnam’s Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong
provinces; Laos’ Sekong, Attapeu and Saravan provinces; and Cambodia’s Stung
Treng, Rattanak Kiri, and Mondul Kiri. In 2009, the three countries agreed to
add Vietnam’s Binh Phuoc province, Cambodia’s Kratie province, and Laos’ Champasak
province to the area.-VNA