Monday, March 31, 2008

Third GMS Summit opens to chart future course for region

March 31, 2008

The third summit meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) opened here on Monday during which the prime ministers will discuss ways to deepen economic cooperation for their countries' shared prosperity.

The theme of the Third GMS Summit is "Enhancing Competitiveness through Greater Connectivity".

Leaders of the six countries sharing the Mekong River -- Cambodia, the People's Republic of China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam will discuss coordinated actions to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development in the region through expanded transportation and telecommunication linkages, streamlined trade agreements, and greater environmental management efforts.

In his opening speech, Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh asked the GMS leaders to consider the endorsement of the GMS Plan of Action for the period 2008-2012.

The leaders are being joined by Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda. ADB has been the lead supporter of the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program since 1992.

The First GMS Summit was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in November 2002, while the Second GMS Summit was held in Kunming, China in July 2005.

Source: Xinhua

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