The sixth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS-6) Summit wrapped up successfully with many key documents ratified, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed at an international press conference in Hanoi on March 31.

The GMS leaders adopted the Joint Statement of the sixth GMS Summit affirming the GMS countries’ political commitment and determination to enhance the role of the mechanism.

The Hanoi Action Plan for 2018-2022 defines major orientations and cooperation measures in the coming time while the Regional Investment Framework 2022 provides a list of more than 220 projects worth about 66 billion USD, the PM said.

The success of the GMS proves the aspiration and determination to build the Mekong region of peace, prosperity and sustainable development for the people, and realize its vision on the pillars of 3C: “Connectivity, Competitiveness and Community,"he stressed.

With the theme “Leveraging 25 years of cooperation, Building an integrated, sustainable and prosperous GMS”, the 6th GMS Summit received active support of the GMS leaders and representatives from its key partners, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, and ASEAN.

The Vietnamese PM also attributed the summit’s success to the active participation of more than 3,000 business delegates from the GMS nations and partners, as well as nearly 400 international and Vietnamese reporters.

At the press conference, ADB President Takehiko Nakao praised Vietnam’s initiative on organising the GMS Business Summit, the first of its kind, which helped strengthen dialogues between enterprises and governments and connect businesses in the region and the world, while encouraging resources from the private sector.

The GMS aims to mobilise 66 billion USD in the next five years, in which ADB will provide at least 7 billion USD for the region. The rest will be mobilised from private sector, he said, adding that is why the GMS Business Summit is very important for the GMS mechanism.

The ADB President also expressed his confidence in GMS economic growth in general and the opportunities for Vietnam to summon the regional potential. 

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. 

Priority fields include infrastructure development, energy, telecommunications, tourism, trade-investment, human resources, and the environment.

Plenary session of sixth GMS Summit in Hanoi

A plenary session of the sixth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit was held at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi on March 31.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (third from left) along with leaders from other countries participate in the ​plenary session of the sixth GMS Summit The plenary session aims to review cooperation outcomes reached from the fifth GMS summit Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) takes photo with heads of delegations of countries Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam speaks at the plenum Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen delivers a speech at the plenary session Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi speaks at the session Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha addresses the session Vice President of Myanmar U Henry Van Thio speaks at the event

VNA