Present were diplomats from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, India, Thailand and Vietnam.

They reviewed the results of cooperation between MGC countries following the decisions made at the previous meeting as well as discussed future plans to improve cooperative mechanisms.

India dwelled on plans to build a museum of traditional Asian textiles in Siem Reap in Cambodia and efforts being made to preserve world heritage sites in MGC countries. It proposed building a highway to connect India with Myanmar and Thailand and awarding 50 scholarships from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Participants discussed the formation of a working party to conduct health research and another to focus on increased cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises and plans to set up a common resources archive at Nalanda University in the Indian state of Bihar.

They agreed to speed up English language projects, develop business communities and establish more vocational training programmes.

The MGC was established on November 10, 2000, in Vientiane, Laos, with a vision for cooperation between India and the five Mekong countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Four priority areas of cooperation between MGC member countries cover tourism, education, human resource development and transport.