Monday, 7 June 2010

Mekong countries vow to strengthen cooperation


via CAAI News Media

06/07/2010

Countries in the Mekong sub-region need to undertake new initiatives and enhance their leadership for the sake of regional development, leaders of five Mekong River countries agreed at the 19th World Economic Forum on East Asia in HCM City on June 6.

The Prime Ministers from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand affirmed strong commitment of the Mekong River Commission members to continuing cooperation and pushing up sustainable development, using, protecting and managing Mekong River water and other resources in the river’s lower basin.


Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung said that strengthening and raising the efficiency of bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms in the region and with non-regional partners is one of the four priorities for quick and sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region.

He stressed the need to protect natural resources, particularly water resources in the Mekong basin, and eco-environment toward building a green development Mekong.

Apart from taking advantages of capital and assistance from international organisations as well as developed partners in East Asia and the world, sub-regional countries also need to create a favourable legal corridor and offer financial incentives in order accelerate cooperation projects under the public-private partnership format, especially for development of infrastructure, transport, urban areas, investment and trade, Mr Dung said.

The countries also need to join hands to draw out priorities in each country’s economic development strategy which focuses on hard and soft infrastructure development, transport, human resource development, services, telecommunications, and new and renewable energy sources, according to PM Dung.

The Mekong sub-region is an important area in Southeast Asia, a potential destination with investment opportunities in agricultural, aquatic and forestry production, hydro-power and mining.

The region is emerging as an attractive centre for developed partners, including major economies in East Asia like Japan and other important partners like the US and Europe.

VOVNews/VNA

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