GMS-4 towards a region of integration and prosperity
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has reaffirmed Vietnam’s strong support for cooperation in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) towards integration, prosperity and sustainable development.
The fourth Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS-4) Summit on the theme “Towards a New Decade of GMS Strategic Development Partnership” officially opened in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on December 20 with the participation of the six member nations including Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam.
PM Dung and other GMS leaders expressed their satisfaction with the results of implementing activities within the 10-year Strategic Framework of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS–SF) Economic Cooperation Program (2002-2012), especially cooperation in transport, energy, trade, investment, and information exchanges, as well as agriculture, tourism and the environment. They stressed that utilizing and managing the water resources of the Mekong River in a sustainable manner is of great importance for the common development in the sub- region.
The meeting adopted the Strategic Framework of the GMS Program for the next ten years (2012-2020) which will serve as a foundation for developing economic cooperation in the sub-region.
GMS leaders focused their discussions on critical issues such as shifting the transport corridor to the economic corridor; mobilizing resources for priority sub-regional programmes and protecting natural resources for sustainable development.
The GMS countries also approved the second phase of the Cooperation Framework for the Core Environment Program (CEP) for 2012-2016; the Core Agricultural Support Program (CASP) for 2011-2015; and the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy and Road Map for 2011-2015.
In his speech, PM Dung highlighted the need to mobilize capital for developing infrastructure, revamp cooperation institutions in the sub-region, and improve the capacity of policy makers. It is also necessary to enhance coordination between local and centrally-run agencies, and between the Government and the private sector to develop the economic corridor and boost investment and trade.
Considering the natural disasters that have inflicted heavy losses on GMS nations, Mr Dung said it is imperative to devise effective solutions to mobilize capital from international organizations and development partners, ensure an equal playing ground and effective business environment, and improve the legal framework to attract investment capital from private sectors.
During the meeting, PM Dung and the GMS leaders witnessed the signing of three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on Joint Cooperation in Further Accelerating the Construction of the Information Superhighway and its Applications in the GMS; Joint Action to Reduce HIV Vulnerability Related to Population Movement; and Establishing the GMS Freight Transporters Association.
They issued a joint declaration affirming their determination to overcome challenges and difficulties to promote GMS cooperation towards a Mekong region of integration, prosperity and sustainable development.
The declaration stressed that the 10-year framework needs to pay more attention to investment in solid infrastructure, software and multi-sectoral coordination.
In preparation for the investment framework and effective implementation of the framework, the leaders also highlighted the need to closely combine sub-regional strategy and the national economic development strategy, along with feasible investment demands and human resource utilisation.
They expressed their belief that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other development partners will continue their support for GMS nations to help them fulfil their targets and aspirations in the next period.
They agreed that the fifth GMS Summit will be held in Thailand in 2014.
A GMS investment and business conference also took place on the sidelines of the GMS-4, attracting around 150 representatives from businesses in the sub-region.