Representatives of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have agreed to assign Vietnam to devise an action plan for effectively implementing the Agreement on Trade Promotion and Facilitation in the CLV Development Triangle Area, signed in 2016 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung speaks at the event 

This is one of the important contents stated in the minutes of the 12th meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee on the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (JCC CLV DTA 12), just inked by the ministers of the three countries.

The event, which took place from March 7-10 in Kratie province, Cambodia, was jointly chaired by Cambodian Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak, Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Suphan Keomixay and Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung.

The Vietnamese side is also assigned to develop specific plans and projects to perform the Action Plan for CLV Economic Connectivity up to 2030.

The ministers recognised the need to strengthen current efforts of the three countries in ensuring border security and satisfactorily solving security issues, especially illegal border crossings, drug and human trafficking; and improving the effectiveness of "hotlines", particularly at the local level.

They highlighted that it is necessary to review and evaluate the master plan for socio-economic development in the CLV development triangle area in the 2010-2020 period to have a panorama of development status, new opportunities and challenges, as well as demand of the three countries in the new development context.

Regarding tourism, the sides agreed to accelerate the building of a development plan for the sector, and coordinate in collecting information and data to complete relevant reports at the 11th CLV Development Triangle Area Summit in November this year. 

Laos and Cambodia have proposed Vietnam manage the website of the CLV Development Triangle Area, and upgrade the information storage capacity to enable the three countries’ authorities to upload information to the website.

Under the minutes, Laos will be the host country of the 11th CLV Development Triangle Area Summit.

In the development triangle area, Vietnam has so far invested in 49 projects in Cambodia with a total registered investment of 1.63 billion USD and 67 projects worth 1.97 billion USD in Laos. Meanwhile, five Vietnamese localities in the Development Triangle Area have attracted 233 projects worth 2.3 billion USD from 20 countries and territories. 

The Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area was established in 1999, initially covering 10 provinces namely Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Dak Nong (Vietnam); Sekong, Attapeu and Saravan (Laos); and Stung Treng, Rattanakiri and Mondulkiri (Cambodia). Vietnam’s Binh Phuoc province, Laos’ Champasak province and Kratie of Cambodia were added into the group in 2009.

The group aims to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation among the three countries while ensuring security and political stability as well as promoting poverty reduction and socio-economic development in the area.

Its cooperation focuses on such areas as security-diplomacy, transport, industry, agriculture, trade, investment, social affairs, and environmental protection.

Vietnam has joined actively and made important contributions to the area.-VNA