GMS-6 has the theme “Leveraging 25 years of cooperation, Building an integrated, sustainable and prosperous GMS”, while CLV 10 reviews the implementation of “the Master Plan for Socio-Economic Development of the CLV Development Triangle Area for 2010-2020” and discusses cooperation orientations for the coming time, while seeking ways to increase the trilateral economic connectivity.
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PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (2nd from right) inspects venues for the GMS and CLV Summits. |
The two summits are among the most important multilateral external events to be hosted by Vietnam in 2018. Following the success of the APEC 2017 Year, Vietnam’s hosting of GMS-6 and CLV-10 shows the country’s increasing position in the international arena as well as its active role and contributions to regional cooperation mechanisms.
GMS was established in 1992 as an initiative of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), involving Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The cooperation program aims to facilitate win-win economic growth among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Yunnan province and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region of China, helping the Greater Mekong Sub-region become an area of development and prosperity in the region.
GMS is guided by three pillars of infrastructure connectivity, competitiveness enhancement, and community spirit. Over the past time, GMS member countries have worked together in various fields, such as transportation, energy, agriculture, tourism, trade-investment, and human resources.
Since the establishment of GMS in 1992, Vietnam has actively participated in this cooperation program, resulting in positive achievements in economic development and poverty reduction for the country and economic connectivity for the region. Up to December 2017, total value of GMS projects in Vietnam reached around US$ 6 billion, accounting for 30 percent of the program’s loans/subsidies. In particular, Vietnam effectively contributed to initiatives and priority cooperation fields of GMS, such as the Cross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement (GMS CBTA), the Transport Sector Strategy Study, and the Regional Investment Framework.
Meanwhile, 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 mechanism. Its cooperation focuses on security, external affairs, transport, industry, agriculture, trade, investment and environmental protection. Up to now, CLV Development Triangle Area has helped their member countries maintain social order and security, boost poverty reduction, and gain socio-economic development.
Vietnam has made considerable contributions to fostering cooperation within CLV mechanism. Notably, CLV 8 agreed two initiatives of Vietnam, particularly in expanding CLV Development Triangle Area cooperation by connecting the three member economies in fields of transportation, electricity, tourism and banking; and building a CLV Development Triangle Area tourism plan in a hope to boost tourism cooperation among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
As the host of GMS-6 and CLV-10, Vietnam has actively worked with Laos and Cambodia to build detailed agendas for the two summits, showing its determination in beefing up their practical cooperation activities.
In addition, the success of GMS-6 and CLV-10 will make contributions to promoting cooperation benefits of Vietnam in the Mekong region in general, consolidating and heightening the traditional relationship with its neighboring countries, and further fostering cooperation within GMS and CLV mechanisms. Furthermore, the events offer a good opportunity for Vietnam to introduce to international friends its hospitality, potential, and the beauty of both the Vietnamese people and landscapes.
With the host’s careful preparations and active participation of other member countries, Vietnam will successfully chair GMS-6 and CLV-10, further contributing to the sustainable development and prosperity in the region.
Written by PAN Editorial Board
Translated by Van Hieu