Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien attends the event. (Photo: VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – A Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of Industry and TradeNguyen Hong Dien attended the 15th Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Vietnam EconomicMinisters' Meeting (CLMV EMM 15) in Semarang city, Indonesia onAugust 18.
The event was part of the 55th ASEAN Economic Ministers’Meeting (AEM 55) and related meetings from August 17-22.
Speaking at the event, Minister Dien thanked Cambodia,Laos and Myanmar for actively joiningactivities hosted by Vietnam during 2022 and the pastmonths of 2023, including the Vietnam Expo, the Vietnam Foodexpo, fairs held in Laos and Cambodia, and scholarships granted by Vietnam.
Regarding the CLMV Action Plan for the2023-2024 period, the Vietnamese delegation committed further support to stalls of Cambodia, Laos andMyanmar at major international fairs and exhibitions organised by Vietnam, he said, adding scholarship programmes for students from Cambodia, Laos, andMyanmar will also continue.
The Vietnamese side proposed that the CLMV countries enhance cooperationto facilitate trade, remove barriers to lift trade volume among regionalcountries. They were urged to offer mutualsupport to effectively implement the Free Trade Agreements(FTAs) ofwhich they are members, contributing to strengthening regional supply chainsand supporting the development of the business community.
Delegates atthe event discussed reports on the economic, trade, andinvestment situations of the four countries, the completion of the CLMVAction Plan for the 2021-2022 period, the progress of the CLMV Action Plan for the 2023-2024period, as well as updates on the implementation of the Action Plan for the CLMVDevelopment Framework and a project regarding the workshop on the socialisation of the implementation of the Action Plan for CLMV DevelopmentFramework, and other important issues.
A joint statement was also adopted at the event.
Initiated by Vietnam, the CLMV EMM mechanism was established in August 2010 withan aim to further nurture economicand trade relations among the CLMV countries, and closer coordination at regional, sub-regional, and internationalforums; fully leverage thepotential of each country, narrow the development gap between the four CLMVnations and the rest of the ASEAN region and the world; and expedite theimplementation of agreements reached at the CLMV Summits./.
