Contributions Vietnam made to ACMECS 8 and CLMV 9 once again affirm its sense of responsibility for and activeness in joining regional cooperation frameworks, thus helping promote comprehensive and sustainable development in the Mekong Sub-region.

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son

The statement was made by Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in reply to reporters’ queries on the outcomes of the two summits and Vietnam’s contributions to the events.

According to Son, as the host of  7th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 7) and 8th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit (CLMV 8) in 2016, Vietnam made proposals on the reform of the two mechanisms in order to raise their effectiveness.

Vietnam’s proposals served as a foundation for the main outcomes of these summits: ACMECS Master Plan for the 2019-2023 period and the involvement of businesses and development partners.

In the past two years, Vietnam actively participated in making new initiatives to carry out the outcomes of ACMECS 7 and CLMV 8 and contributed ideas to documents of the ACMECS 8 and CLMV 9.

Vietnamese ministries and sectors organised a string of activities within the framework of the two cooperative mechanisms such as international tourism fairs, annual trade fairs or transport projects.

Son said that speeches and proposals on cooperative orientations of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the events won high praise from participating countries as they were close to real demand and may bring about benefits to countries.

PM Phuc took the occasion to announce that Vietnam will maintain technical assistance for Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, help the countries attend and organise big trade fairs in Vietnam, and continue to provide CLMV scholarships for Cambodian, Lao and Myanmar students, Son stated.

He added that representatives from Vietnam’s leading enterprises such as FPT, Vietjet, BRG, T&T and start-up ones actively took part in discussions at the ACMECS CEO Forum and a dialogue with ACMECS country leaders.

Regarding the outcomes of the two summits, Deputy Foreign Minister Son affirmed that the ACMECS 8 themed “Towards an Integrated and Connected ACMECS Community” and the CLMV 9 themed “For Greater Economic Integration and Connectivity” in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 16 were successful.

The two summits took place in the context that the two mechanisms go through 15 years and are facing both opportunities and challenges, he said, adding that the participating leaders stressed the need for Mekong nations to intensify connectivity and boost integration to bring into full play the region’s strength of geo-political position and market potential.

The leaders agreed to pass important documents giving orientations for development of the two mechanisms in the time to come. The joint declarations of the summits affirmed member states’ resolve to build a Mekong sub-region of peace, inclusive and sustainable development, and prosperity.

The summit also discussed Thailand’s initiative on establishing the ACMECS Fund and ACMECS Infrastructure Fund and Trust as a financing mechanism for cooperation projects in the region. The funds aim to support the implementation of proritised projects in ACMECS member countries.  

In addition, the leaders also reached a high consensus on tightening collaboration between ACMECS and CLMV and development partners, as well as coordinating closely with the ASEAN Secretariat to effectively mobilise resources for regional development.

This ACMECS Summit also stressed the role of the business community inside and outside the region. This was the first time the ACMECS CEO Forum and the dialogue between ACMECS country leaders and CEOs of leading companies in the region had been held, which showed that the private sector would be an important partner of ACMECS cooperation in the coming time, Son added.

VNA