The 22nd Ministerial Meeting on the GMS Economic Cooperation Programme in Hanoi on September 20 (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Government is committed to strongly supporting theGreater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Economic Cooperation Programme initiative, saidMinister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung.
Speaking at the 22nd Ministerial Meeting on the GMS Programme in Hanoi on September 20, the ministersaid Vietnam is mobilising capital resources from international organisations,both bilaterally and multilaterally, to materialise high-priority projects towhich Vietnam is a participant by integrating the GMS’s priority programmes andprojects into programmes funded by foreign donors.
Vietnam willcontinue to closely coordinate with other GMS countries, the Asian DevelopmentBank (ADB) and other development partners, including the private sector, toachieve targets set by the GMS Programme, he said.
ADB Vice-President Stephen Groff said although ADBfacilitated the process, the initiative was driven by the countries themselves,with a sharp focus on joint action to address common challenges.
The GMS Programme has been guided by the 3 Cs: connectivity, competitiveness, andcommunity, he said, adding that this overarching approach to regionaldevelopment produced significant results.
The participating ministersused this occasion to celebrate 25 years of GMS economic cooperation, acknowledgingthe achievements of the programme in creating a strong bond of openness, mutualtrust and shared commitment.
They welcomed thepreparation of the Hanoi Action Plan (HAP) 2018-2022, which calls for anexpansion of economic corridors to boost connectivity between countries as wellas within rural and urban centres to ensure a more equitable distribution ofthe benefits of economic growth.
The plan will be submittedto the 6th GMS Summit slated for March 2018 in Vietnam forconsideration and approval.
The minister also endorsedthe GMS Regional Investment Framework 2022 to support the HAP through apipeline of 222 investment and technical assistance projects valued at 64billion USD.
The ministers urged greaterengagement of development partners and private sector to meet financingrequirements in the GMS.
They extended strongsupport for a new GMS Transport Sector Strategy that aims to build a seamless,efficient, reliable, and sustainable GMS transport system. This will beachieved through the improvement of the sub-region’s links with South Asia andother parts of Southeast Asia, better cross-border transport, strengthenedintermodal transport links and logistics development, as well as enhanced roadsafety.
The GMS Tourism SectorStrategy 2016-2025 was also endorsed to enable more competitive, balanced, andsustainable destination development. The ministers welcomed the progresstowards the formal establishment of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office asan inter-governmental organisation.
The six countries —Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam— entered the GMSProgramme in 1992, with assistance from the ADB, aiming to enhance economicrelations.
Under the programme, investment projects worthmore than 19.1 billion USD have so far been undertaken, according to theADB.-VNA
Speaking at the 22nd Ministerial Meeting on the GMS Programme in Hanoi on September 20, the ministersaid Vietnam is mobilising capital resources from international organisations,both bilaterally and multilaterally, to materialise high-priority projects towhich Vietnam is a participant by integrating the GMS’s priority programmes andprojects into programmes funded by foreign donors.
Vietnam willcontinue to closely coordinate with other GMS countries, the Asian DevelopmentBank (ADB) and other development partners, including the private sector, toachieve targets set by the GMS Programme, he said.
ADB Vice-President Stephen Groff said although ADBfacilitated the process, the initiative was driven by the countries themselves,with a sharp focus on joint action to address common challenges.
The GMS Programme has been guided by the 3 Cs: connectivity, competitiveness, andcommunity, he said, adding that this overarching approach to regionaldevelopment produced significant results.
The participating ministersused this occasion to celebrate 25 years of GMS economic cooperation, acknowledgingthe achievements of the programme in creating a strong bond of openness, mutualtrust and shared commitment.
They welcomed thepreparation of the Hanoi Action Plan (HAP) 2018-2022, which calls for anexpansion of economic corridors to boost connectivity between countries as wellas within rural and urban centres to ensure a more equitable distribution ofthe benefits of economic growth.
The plan will be submittedto the 6th GMS Summit slated for March 2018 in Vietnam forconsideration and approval.
The minister also endorsedthe GMS Regional Investment Framework 2022 to support the HAP through apipeline of 222 investment and technical assistance projects valued at 64billion USD.
The ministers urged greaterengagement of development partners and private sector to meet financingrequirements in the GMS.
They extended strongsupport for a new GMS Transport Sector Strategy that aims to build a seamless,efficient, reliable, and sustainable GMS transport system. This will beachieved through the improvement of the sub-region’s links with South Asia andother parts of Southeast Asia, better cross-border transport, strengthenedintermodal transport links and logistics development, as well as enhanced roadsafety.
The GMS Tourism SectorStrategy 2016-2025 was also endorsed to enable more competitive, balanced, andsustainable destination development. The ministers welcomed the progresstowards the formal establishment of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office asan inter-governmental organisation.
The six countries —Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam— entered the GMSProgramme in 1992, with assistance from the ADB, aiming to enhance economicrelations.
Under the programme, investment projects worthmore than 19.1 billion USD have so far been undertaken, according to theADB.-VNA
VNA
