Wednesday, 16 September 2009

2nd GMS Economic Corridors Forum opens in Cambodia

Photo by DAP

2009-09-16

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The second GMS (Greater Mekong sub-Region) Economic Corridor Forum opened here on Wednesday, aiming to strengthen the coordination and cooperation among the six countries along the Mekong River and speed up the development of the sub-region economic corridors.

The two-day Forum include a Governor's Forum and an Economic Corridors Forum. More than one hundred senior government officials attended the meeting.

The theme of the Forum is "GMS Economic Corridors: Pathways to an Integrated, Harmonious and Prosperous Sub-region." It will focus on strengthening the platform for coordination and networking among sectors and groups involved in GMS economic corridor development and drawing attention to issues and concerns affecting economic corridor development, and to discuss strategies and measures to accelerate such development.

At the same time, all side will talk about expanding the support of provincial and local authorities to GMS economic corridor development and promote cooperation in addressing cross-border issues and increasing the participation of the private sector and promote public-private partnership in GMS economic corridor development.

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) comprises China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Initiated by the ADB, the GMS was founded in 1992 to boost economic growth and reduce poverty in the countries along the Mekong, Southeast Asia's longest river. The region is home to 280 million people, most of whom rely on agriculture and fishing.

The region boasts three road corridors: the north-south road between Kunming, Bangkok and Hanoi; the route from Da Nang in Vietnam and Mawlamyine in Myanmar through Cambodia and Laos; and the route connecting Bangkok and the cities in Cambodia and Vietnam.

The first GMS Economic Corridors Forum was held in Kunming in June last year after it was proposed by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the third GMS Summit in Laos.

Editor: Mo Hong'e

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