PM underscores cohesion and harmony in GMS cooperation

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the affirmation on December 20 at the opening of the fifth Greater Mekong Sub region (GMS) summit in Bangkok, Thailand, adding that the proper balance of the three elements is pivotal to obtaining the goal of sustainable and comprehensive development.

Those in attendance on opening day of the two-day event included PM Dung along with hundreds of senior officials and government leaders including the Prime Ministers of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and China, President of Myanmar and the President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The PM said all of the countries in the region are responsible for the management of the water resources and its preservation is the glue that binds the governments and the peoples of the nations inextricably together.

The private sector and youth should also be invited to play a greater role in the preservation of resources as they are truly an invaluable resource that could lead to positive changes in the region, Dung concluded.

Under the 5th GMS summit framework, PM Dung delivered a speech at the Leaders' Retreat meeting, presenting clear-cut viewpoints on sustainable and comprehensive development and practical ideas on harmonious cooperation with the nature and people in regional countries.

He put forth proposals on enhanced connectivity between the GMS and other regional initiatives, notably a roadmap for establishing an ASEAN Community in 2015 and measures to mobilise sources for realizing the GMS investment framework by 2022.

The summit adopted a joint declaration and a number of documents on a plan to implement the Regional Investment Framework (RIF) in 2014-2018, the establishment of the Regional Power Coordination Center (RPCC), GMS Railway Association, and GMS Transport Sector Strategy Study for 2006-2015.

It agreed to hold the next summit in Vietnam in 2017.