Contributions Vietnam made to the 8th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 8) and 9th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit (CLMV 9) once again affirm its sense of responsibility for and activeness in joining regional cooperation frameworks, thus helping promote comprehensive and sustainable development in the Mekong Sub-region.
The statement was made by Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in an interview with the press on the outcomes of the two summits and Vietnam’s contributions to the events.
 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has a meeting with his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha in Bangkok. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  The two Prime Ministers witness the signing of a contract between Xuan Cau Co.,ltd and B.Grimm. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  The Vietnamese leader attends a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his spouse. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA |
| ACMECS is a cooperation framework amongst Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to utilise the member countries’ diverse strengths and to promote balanced development in the sub-region. It was established in April 2003 under the initiative of then Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. |
Vietnam’s proposals served as a foundation for the main outcomes of these summits: ACMECS Master Plan for the 2019-2023 period and the involvement of businesses and development partners.
In the past two years, Vietnam actively participated in making new initiatives to carry out the outcomes of ACMECS 7 and CLMV 8 and contributed ideas to documents of the ACMECS 8 and CLMV 9.
Vietnamese ministries and sectors organised activities within the framework of the two cooperative mechanisms such as international tourism fairs, annual trade fairs or transport projects.
Son said that speeches and proposals on cooperative orientations of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the events won high praise from participating countries as they were close to real demand and may bring about benefits to countries.
 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc takes part in the opening ceremony of ACMECS 8 in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  Prime Minister Paryut Chan-o-cha opens ACMECS 8. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  Panoramic view of ACMECS 8. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  The Vietnamese Prime Minister attends CLMV 9 in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and heads of delegation have a working session with CEOs. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA |
Prime Minister Phuc took the occasion to announce that Vietnam will maintain technical assistance for Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, help the countries attend and organise big trade fairs in Vietnam, and continue to provide CLMV scholarships for Cambodian, Lao and Myanmar students, Son stated.
He added that representatives from Vietnam’s leading enterprises such as FPT, Vietjet, BRG, T&T and start-up ones actively took part in discussions at the ACMECS CEO Forum and a dialogue with ACMECS country leaders.
Regarding the outcomes of the two summits, Deputy Foreign Minister Son affirmed that the ACMECS 8 themed “Towards an Integrated and Connected ACMECS Community” and the CLMV 9 themed “For Greater Economic Integration and Connectivity” in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 16 were successful.
The two summits took place in the context that the two mechanisms have gone through 15 years and are facing both opportunities and challenges, he said, adding that the participating leaders stressed the need for Mekong nations to intensify connectivity and boost integration to bring into full play the region’s strength of geo-political position and market potential.
The leaders agreed to pass important documents giving orientations for development of the two mechanisms in the time to come. The joint declarations of the summits affirmed member states’ resolve to build a Mekong sub-region of peace, inclusive and sustainable development, and prosperity.
 The Vietnamese leader has working sessions with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techno Hun Sen. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  He has a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  He also meets with Prime Minister of Myanmar Win Myint. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  The Vietnamese leader has a reception for Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, Chairman of ThaiBev. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  He has a meeting with ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA |
|
During the ASEAN-Japan Summit in December 2003 in Tokyo, leaders of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam agreed to hold the first CLMV Summit in Vientiane in November 2004 when the 10th ASEAN Summit was held. The CLMV cooperation is based on the idea of narrowing development gap between CLMV and other countries in the region, thus facilitating their integration into the region’s development. |
In addition, the leaders also reached a high consensus on tightening collaboration between ACMECS and CLMV and development partners, as well as coordinating closely with the ASEAN Secretariat to effectively mobilise resources for regional development.
This ACMECS Summit also stressed the role of the business community inside and outside the region. This was the first time the ACMECS CEO Forum and the dialogue between ACMECS country leaders and CEOs of leading companies in the region had been held, which showed that the private sector would be an important partner of ACMECS cooperation in the coming time, Son added.
By VNA/VNP
