ASIA: VIENTIANE – PM departs for Vietnam to attend 6th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit

Government leaders from the six member countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) will hold talks in Hanoi, Vietnam, this week to outline the future direction of cooperation in the sub-region.

The 6th GMS Summit will bring together leaders from Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and his delegation are scheduled to depart today for Vietnam from March 29-31 to attend the summit, GMS Business Summit, and the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area Summit, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.

The 6th GMS Summit of Leaders, hosted by the government of Vietnam, carries the theme “Leveraging on 25 Years of Cooperation, and Building a Sustainable, Integrated, and Prosperous GMS.”

The GMS Summit highlights the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic Cooperation Programme, capitalising on the strong support of member countries to showcase project results, strong partnerships among countries, the Asian Development Bank and other development partners, and the programme’s pioneering role in regional cooperation, according to the GMS website.

The summit will begin with a closed-door Leaders’ Retreat on March 31, followed by a formal Summit Plenary Session.
On March 30, a GMS Business Summit will be organised by the host government. Preceding these summits will be a GMS Senior Officials’ Meeting and 6th Summit Task Force Meeting on March 29, according to the website.

The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the summit will adopt a joint declaration and documents relating to future cooperation.
GMS summits are normally held every three years. The GMS Business Summit will be held for the first time to disseminate untapped investment potentials and opportunities in the sub-region in a move to bolster trade, investment and tourism in the sub-region.

A photo exhibition will be held and documentaries will be aired to showcase cooperation progress throughout the 25 years of the Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic Cooperation Programme.

At the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area Summit, leaders of the three countries will review progress made in implementing outcomes of the 9th Summit held in Cambodia in 2016.

The 10th Summit will adopt a joint declaration featuring the future cooperation direction of the Development Triangle area.

An Action Plan on Economic Connectivity between Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam until 2030 will also be adopted, according to the Lao ministry.
Prime Minister Thongloun is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from GMS member countries.

The Lao premier will also call on Vietnam’s leaders. / Vientiane Times / By Times Reporters (Latest Update March 29, 2018) / All photographs, news, editorials, opinions, information, data, others have been taken from the Internet ..aseanews.net | [email protected] / For comments, Email to : Aseanews.Net | [email protected] | Contributor:-