Connectivity within the ASEAN and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) is ‘the key’ to ensuring long-term sustainability in the areas of trade, investment and tourism—and of fundamentally tantamount importance to building the ASEAN community.

ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh made the affirmation in a keynote address he delivered entitled ‘ASEAN regional connection-challenges and opportunities' at a seminar on the afternoon of December 19 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Those in attendance at the seminar included hundreds of senior government officials and local authorities of Thailand and Vietnam along with representatives of international and regional organizations.

Speaking at the event, Vietnam Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Thailand Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai echoed Minh’s views, underscoring their commitment to enhancing connectivity within the region.

Both said their governments would strive to broaden connectivity within the Greater Mekong Sub-region and ASEAN connectivity projects in an ever widening array of fields.

The regional grouping is accelerating regional connectivity through implementing a large number of major projects on institutional linkages, and infrastructure and human resource development, aiming to stimulate economic growth and improve the lives of the peoples from ASEAN bloc.

These projects include building an ASEAN highway, a railway linking Singapore and Kunming, China, developing ASEAN single aviation and shipping market, the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP) system and power transmission grid which are important factors in the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.

However, GMS and ASEAN intra-regional connectivity has faced a number of challenges in pooling resources from the public and private sectors.

 “To fulfill the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, each regional country will need to invest around US$60 billion annually over the next 10 years,” Minh said.

Minh highlighted the importance of the seminar with plentiful opportunities for partners, especially the private sector to get involved in the programme.

World Bank Country Director for Southeast Asia Ulrich Zachau, Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Rattanavrangkul and other Thailand and Vietnam officials in turn put forth proposals on fostering connectivity within the region in the fields of finance, investment, trade, tourism, and transport.

They stressed that regional connectivity projects would facilitate ASEAN community integration and spur regional socio-economic development.

VOV/VNN