Sixth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit a success

The sixth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS-6) Summit wrapped up successfully with many key documents being ratified, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed at an international press conference in Hanoi on March 31.

At the international press conference (Photo: VNA)
At the international press conference (Photo: VNA)

The GMS leaders adopted the Joint Statement of the sixth GMS Summit which affirms the GMS countries’ political commitments and determination to enhance the role of the mechanism.

The Hanoi Action Plan for 2018-2022 defines the major directions and cooperation measures for the future, while the Regional Investment Framework 2022 provides a list of more than 220 projects worth about US$66 billion, the PM said.

The success of the GMS proves the aspirations and determination of the member countries to build a Mekong region of peace, prosperity and sustainable development for the people, and realise its vision on the pillars of the 3Cs, “Connectivity, Competitiveness and Community, he stressed.

With the theme “Leveraging 25 years of cooperation, building an integrated, sustainable and prosperous GMS”, the 6th GMS Summit received the active support of the GMS leaders and representatives from its key partners, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, and ASEAN.

The Vietnamese PM also attributed the summit’s success to the active participation of more than 3,000 business delegates from the GMS nations and partners, as well as nearly 400 international and Vietnamese reporters.

At the press conference, ADB President Takehiko Nakao praised Vietnam’s initiative in organising the GMS Business Summit, the first of its kind, which has helped to strengthen the dialogues between enterprises and governments and connect businesses in the region and around the world, while encouraging resources from the private sector.

The GMS aims to mobilise US$66 billion in the next five years, in which the ADB will provide at least US$7 billion for the region. The rest will be mobilised from the private sector, he said, adding that is why the GMS Business Summit is crucial for the GMS mechanism.

The ADB President also expressed his confidence in GMS economic growth in general and the opportunities for Vietnam to ultilise regional potential.

GMS was established in 1992 as an initiative of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The GMS Programme is the most complete cooperation programme that involves Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and China’s Yunnan and Guangxi provinces. Priority fields include infrastructure development, energy, telecommunications, tourism, trade-investment, human resources, and the environment.