Saturday, 8 November 2008

ACMECS aims for strengthened trade-investment co-operation

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung addresses the summit.

Nhan Dan
November 8, 2008

Prime Ministers from the region attending the third Ayayewady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Co-operation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit have agreed to boost co-operation in the areas of economy, trade, investment and tourism to cope with the negative impact of the global economic downturn.

Addressing the function, which opened in Hanoi on November 7, Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung asked ACMECS countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to increase their exchange of experiences and provide mutual support within the framework of bilateral and ASEAN, ASEAN+3, APEC and ASEM co-operation for greater socio-economic development in each country, thus contributing to stabilising the region’s economic and financial situation.

In the context of the unpredictability of the regional and global economy, ACMECS PMs agreed to boost co-operation in an effective and practical manner, as well as take advantage of opportunities and cope with new challenges. At the same time, ACMECS member countries should boost economic integration with one another and across the Mekong sub-region as well, they said.

The PMs discussed and approved specific proposals focusing on promoting ACMECS co-operation in the agriculture, industry, energy, transportation, tourism and health sectors.
They also stressed that ACMECS would continue to give top priority to human resources development.

Leaders of the ACMECS countries also emphasised the need for favourable procedures and mechanisms, including customs procedures and tourism promotion activities.

Regarding environmental protection, the Vietnamese PM said that suitable measures should be taken towards reasonable exploitation of the three rivers, which play an important role in the sustainable development of ACMECS countries, with special attention being paid to the Mekong river.

The PMs agreed to incorporate environmental protection into ACMECS co-operation programme and to establish an environmental task group within the framework of ACMECS.

In conclusion, the ACMECS PMs approved a joint statement conveying a message of high determination and committed actions by member countries to transform ACMECS into a practical and effective co-operation framework across a number of fields.

The fourth ACMECS Summit will take place in Cambodia in 2010. (VNA)

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