From left: Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi at the plenary session of GMS-6 on March 31 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) –After three effective working days in Hanoi from March 29-31, the sixth GreaterMekong Subregion Summit (GMS-6) and the 10th Cambodia-Laos-VietnamSummit on Development Triangle Area (CLV-10) wrapped up successfully,demonstrating the aspiration and determination of the GMS countries in buildinga Mekong subregion of peace, prosperity, and sustainable development forpeople.
Attending the eventswere representatives from the governments and localities of the GMS membernations, development partners, experts and businesses inside and outside the subregion.
Promoting “3C” Strategy in GMS
In his opening speechat the GMS-6, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of host Vietnam said that after aquarter of a century, the GMS cooperation has ceaselessly developed in bothdepth and width, affirming its own identity as a prestigious regionalcooperation mechanism with a “3C” Strategy of Connectivity, Communityand Competitiveness.
Hundreds of projects with a totalcapital of over 21 billion USD have been implemented in various fields fromtransport, energy and telecommunication to trade, agriculture and environment.
The GMS has become a dynamic andintegrated region gathering the fastest growing economies in the world.
To promote the strong engagement ofdevelopment partners, especially the private sector, in the GMS cooperationprogramme, Vietnam initiated the organization of the first-ever GMS BusinessSummit as part of the GMS-6 to strengthen dialogues between the State andbusinesses as well as connect GMS enterprises with global partners.
This initiative received high consensusfrom other GMS member nations and warm support from development partners includingthe Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB) and the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The GMS Business Summitattracted over 2,000 entrepreneurs at home and abroad, which showed theirexcitement to do business in the GMS countries and their trust in the governments’open policies and tremendous cooperation opportunities in the GMS and CLVregions.
Furthermore, Asia has been emerging as a driving force for the globaleconomic growth in the 21st century.
At the GMS-6, leaders of the subregionagreed to set major cooperation orientations in the middle term and activatethe building of a long-term cooperation vision in the GMS.
The subregion’s leadersadopted three important documents including the Joint Statement of the sixthGMS Summit affirming the countries’ political commitment and determination toincrease the role of the cooperation mechanism; the Hanoi Action Plan for2018-2022 defining major collaboration orientations and measures in key fieldsin the coming time; and the Regional Investment Framework 2022 providing a listof more than 220 projects worth about 66 billion USD.
They also look to build a post-2022cooperation vision in the long run and realise the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals of the UN 2030 Agenda given significant changes in the region and theworld. The GMS cooperation programme needs to define a long-term vision tobuild a prosperous and integrated subregion and ensure sustainable, harmoniousand balanced development as well as promote inclusive growth in the region. Itmust also ensure that all people enjoy benefits from the globalisation and thefourth Industrial Revolution.
The GMS was establishedin 1992 as an initiative of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The GMS Programmeis the most complete cooperation programme that involves Vietnam, Laos,Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and China’s Yunnan and Guangxi provinces. Itaims to facilitate and promote win-win economic cooperation among the GMScountries.
Vietnam has activelytaken part in developing initiatives for enhanced cooperation in the GMS toboost economic growth, strengthen economic connectivity and aid povertyreduction efforts in the region.
Vietnam signed the GMSCross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement (CBTA) in 1999 and has ratifiedall CBTA’s annexes, enabling the reduction of amount of time spent in crossingborder for vehicles, goods and passengers and facilitating trade. Since 2012,Vietnam and China have facilitated each other’s vehicles crossing sharedborders on the Kunming – Hanoi – Hai Phong and Hanoi – Nanning – Shenzhenroutes.
The same year, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos signed a Memorandum ofUnderstanding to expand roads connecting the capital cities of the threecountries with two large sea ports – Laem Chabang (Thailand) and Hai Phong(Vietnam) on the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC).
In terms of energy, Vietnam has taken part inthe Regional Indicative Master Plan on Power Interconnection in the GMS, pavingthe way for the country to bolster electricity trading and push for theestablishment of institutions to ensure power security within the region. Byattending meetings of the GMS Regional Power Trade Coordination, Vietnam hasgot updates on the GMS countries’ markets and energy-related plans and greatlybenefited from ADB’s technical support.
The country has played an active role in theGMS’s trade and investment promotion events and enhancing regional partnershipin agriculture, tourism, and telecommunications. It has also contributed to thesubregion’s effort in controlling cross-border infectious diseases, such asSARS, bird flu, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis which are priorities of theregional cooperation in health care.
Attending the eventswere representatives from the governments and localities of the GMS membernations, development partners, experts and businesses inside and outside the subregion.
Promoting “3C” Strategy in GMS
In his opening speechat the GMS-6, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of host Vietnam said that after aquarter of a century, the GMS cooperation has ceaselessly developed in bothdepth and width, affirming its own identity as a prestigious regionalcooperation mechanism with a “3C” Strategy of Connectivity, Communityand Competitiveness.
Hundreds of projects with a totalcapital of over 21 billion USD have been implemented in various fields fromtransport, energy and telecommunication to trade, agriculture and environment.
The GMS has become a dynamic andintegrated region gathering the fastest growing economies in the world.
To promote the strong engagement ofdevelopment partners, especially the private sector, in the GMS cooperationprogramme, Vietnam initiated the organization of the first-ever GMS BusinessSummit as part of the GMS-6 to strengthen dialogues between the State andbusinesses as well as connect GMS enterprises with global partners.
This initiative received high consensusfrom other GMS member nations and warm support from development partners includingthe Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB) and the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The GMS Business Summitattracted over 2,000 entrepreneurs at home and abroad, which showed theirexcitement to do business in the GMS countries and their trust in the governments’open policies and tremendous cooperation opportunities in the GMS and CLVregions.
Furthermore, Asia has been emerging as a driving force for the globaleconomic growth in the 21st century.
At the GMS-6, leaders of the subregionagreed to set major cooperation orientations in the middle term and activatethe building of a long-term cooperation vision in the GMS.
The subregion’s leadersadopted three important documents including the Joint Statement of the sixthGMS Summit affirming the countries’ political commitment and determination toincrease the role of the cooperation mechanism; the Hanoi Action Plan for2018-2022 defining major collaboration orientations and measures in key fieldsin the coming time; and the Regional Investment Framework 2022 providing a listof more than 220 projects worth about 66 billion USD.
They also look to build a post-2022cooperation vision in the long run and realise the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals of the UN 2030 Agenda given significant changes in the region and theworld. The GMS cooperation programme needs to define a long-term vision tobuild a prosperous and integrated subregion and ensure sustainable, harmoniousand balanced development as well as promote inclusive growth in the region. Itmust also ensure that all people enjoy benefits from the globalisation and thefourth Industrial Revolution.
The GMS was establishedin 1992 as an initiative of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The GMS Programmeis the most complete cooperation programme that involves Vietnam, Laos,Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and China’s Yunnan and Guangxi provinces. Itaims to facilitate and promote win-win economic cooperation among the GMScountries.
Vietnam has activelytaken part in developing initiatives for enhanced cooperation in the GMS toboost economic growth, strengthen economic connectivity and aid povertyreduction efforts in the region.
Vietnam signed the GMSCross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement (CBTA) in 1999 and has ratifiedall CBTA’s annexes, enabling the reduction of amount of time spent in crossingborder for vehicles, goods and passengers and facilitating trade. Since 2012,Vietnam and China have facilitated each other’s vehicles crossing sharedborders on the Kunming – Hanoi – Hai Phong and Hanoi – Nanning – Shenzhenroutes.
The same year, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos signed a Memorandum ofUnderstanding to expand roads connecting the capital cities of the threecountries with two large sea ports – Laem Chabang (Thailand) and Hai Phong(Vietnam) on the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC).
In terms of energy, Vietnam has taken part inthe Regional Indicative Master Plan on Power Interconnection in the GMS, pavingthe way for the country to bolster electricity trading and push for theestablishment of institutions to ensure power security within the region. Byattending meetings of the GMS Regional Power Trade Coordination, Vietnam hasgot updates on the GMS countries’ markets and energy-related plans and greatlybenefited from ADB’s technical support.
The country has played an active role in theGMS’s trade and investment promotion events and enhancing regional partnershipin agriculture, tourism, and telecommunications. It has also contributed to thesubregion’s effort in controlling cross-border infectious diseases, such asSARS, bird flu, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis which are priorities of theregional cooperation in health care.
Promoting all-round CLV cooperation
The 10th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Summit on Development Triangle Area (CLV-10) reviewed theimplementation of a master plan on regional socio-economic development for2010-2020 period and mapped out cooperation orientations in the coming time,especially embracing trilateral economic links.
This was the first timeleaders of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB) and theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had participated in the summit.
The CLV leadersrecognised progresses in the trilateral cooperation over the past time inwide-ranging fields from infrastructure to trade facilitation. They stressedthe importance of the CLV cooperation in maintaining peace and stability in theregion, supporting socio-economic development in each country, and helping 13border provinces narrow development gaps.
At the summit, the CLVleaders reiterated their commitment to promoting comprehensive cooperationbetween the three countries, contributing to the building of integrated,sustainable and prosperous economies in the development triangle area, which isan indispensable part of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
They emphasised on theneed to strengthen connectivity between the three economies to increase theircompetitiveness and effective involvement in regional and global value chainsand cope with common challenges.
The leaders discussed the expansion ofthe CLV Development Triangle Area to the entire three nations, yet only the 13border provinces, and agreed to entrust ministers and experts to study thisissue.
The three PMs approveda masterplan for CLV connectivity until 2030, which coversmajor orientations for boosting infrastructure, institutional, economic andpeople-to-people exchange connectivity.
The CLV DevelopmentTriangle Area was established in 1999, covering Vietnam’s Kon Tum, Gia Lai, DakLak, Dak Nong provinces; Laos’ Sekong, Attapeu and Saravan provinces; andCambodia’s Stung Treng, Rattanak Kiri, and Mondul Kiri.
In 2009, the three countries agreed to addVietnam’s Binh Phuoc province, Cambodia’s Kratie province, and Laos’ Champasakprovince to the area. Its cooperation focuses on the fields of security,external affairs, transport, industry, agriculture, trade, investment andenvironmental protection.
The establishment ofthe CLV Development Triangle Area aims to strengthen solidarity and cooperationbetween the three countries to ensure security and political stability, reducepoverty and develop economy in the region.
The CLV cooperationfocuses on security, external affairs, transport, industry, agriculture, trade,investment, social affairs and environmental protection.
The successful hosting of the GMS-6 andCLV-10, one of the country’s most importantmultilateral external events in 2018, demonstrates Vietnam’s increasing roleand position in the region as well as its active contributions to regionalcooperation mechanisms.-VNA
This was the first timeleaders of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB) and theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had participated in the summit.
The CLV leadersrecognised progresses in the trilateral cooperation over the past time inwide-ranging fields from infrastructure to trade facilitation. They stressedthe importance of the CLV cooperation in maintaining peace and stability in theregion, supporting socio-economic development in each country, and helping 13border provinces narrow development gaps.
At the summit, the CLVleaders reiterated their commitment to promoting comprehensive cooperationbetween the three countries, contributing to the building of integrated,sustainable and prosperous economies in the development triangle area, which isan indispensable part of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
They emphasised on theneed to strengthen connectivity between the three economies to increase theircompetitiveness and effective involvement in regional and global value chainsand cope with common challenges.
The leaders discussed the expansion ofthe CLV Development Triangle Area to the entire three nations, yet only the 13border provinces, and agreed to entrust ministers and experts to study thisissue.
The three PMs approveda masterplan for CLV connectivity until 2030, which coversmajor orientations for boosting infrastructure, institutional, economic andpeople-to-people exchange connectivity.
The CLV DevelopmentTriangle Area was established in 1999, covering Vietnam’s Kon Tum, Gia Lai, DakLak, Dak Nong provinces; Laos’ Sekong, Attapeu and Saravan provinces; andCambodia’s Stung Treng, Rattanak Kiri, and Mondul Kiri.
In 2009, the three countries agreed to addVietnam’s Binh Phuoc province, Cambodia’s Kratie province, and Laos’ Champasakprovince to the area. Its cooperation focuses on the fields of security,external affairs, transport, industry, agriculture, trade, investment andenvironmental protection.
The establishment ofthe CLV Development Triangle Area aims to strengthen solidarity and cooperationbetween the three countries to ensure security and political stability, reducepoverty and develop economy in the region.
The CLV cooperationfocuses on security, external affairs, transport, industry, agriculture, trade,investment, social affairs and environmental protection.
The successful hosting of the GMS-6 andCLV-10, one of the country’s most importantmultilateral external events in 2018, demonstrates Vietnam’s increasing roleand position in the region as well as its active contributions to regionalcooperation mechanisms.-VNA
Chu Thi Thuy Dung
VNA
