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 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.

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