(VOVWORLD) - The sixth Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit (GMS-6) and the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit (CLV-10) opened on Friday in Hanoi. As host of the events, Vietnam will seek direction for GMS cooperation to build a region of integration, sustainable development, and prosperity.
 GMS Business Summit opened in Hanoi on March 30, 2018 (Photo: Duc Anh/VOV5) |
The Greater Mekong Subregion comprises Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China’s Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, and Vietnam. It covers an area of 2.6 million square km inhabited by 340 million people. Since 1992, the 6 member countries have implemented a cooperative program to forge closer economic ties and build a stronger subregion.
Development potential
The GMS links China’s southern region with South East Asia. Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy emphasized the importance of the GMS: “The subregion has high GDP growth rates. Its potential is being tapped by massive infrastructure projects, linking Kunming and Nanning with Singapore from north to south, and linking Vietnam’s coast with Laos, Thailand’s northeast, and Myanmar from east to west. The GMS boasts transparent customs clearance as well as economic corridor development.”
 (Photo: Duc Anh/VOV5) |
Since its establishment 26 years ago, the GMS has convened 5 summits and 22 ministerial meetings, and created many cooperative frameworks. It aims to end poverty and become a region of rapid, sustainable development.
GMS cooperation concentrates on infrastructure connectivity, flow of goods and services, and community connectivity. It has devised laws, plans, and strategies for the 5 countries and 2 provinces of China.
Vietnam pushes for GMS cooperation
Vietnam considers the GMS important and has contributed to all cooperative initiatives. Deputy Foreign Minister Quy explained: “Vietnam proactively works for GMS cooperation because the other GMS members are Vietnam’s most important security and development partners and brothers. Since the 1990s, Vietnam has been actively engaged in GMS infrastructure projects and incorporated them into its own development plans. By last December Vietnam had undertaken transport projects worth a total of 6 billion USD.”
At the ongoing GMS summit in Hanoi, the leaders of member countries are discussing the potential for further economic connectivity. The Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit is reviewing the 3 countries’ master plans for the 2010-2020 period and mapping out future orientations.