Cambodia, Laos, Viet Nam strengthen cooperation in Triangle Area
VGP - Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung and his Cambodian and Lao counterparts co-chaired the 13th Joint Coordination Committee Conference of the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam (CLV) Development Triangle Area in Attapeu, Laos on March 1.
The conference is one of the mechanisms of the development triangle cooperation framework among Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam to promote peace and comprehensive socio-economic development in the border provinces of the three countries.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of a joint statement of the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam Development Triangle Summit in 2020, and a master plan on socio-economic development in the development triangle until 2030.
The meeting also discussed an action plan on economic linkages and tourism development plan among the three countries, as well as directions of cooperation to promote and attract more trade, investment and tourism to the triangle area.
The ministers sought to enable close cooperation to seek financial support for development projects in the Development Triangle Area especially implementation of the Action Plan for CLV Economic Connectivity up to 2030.
Addressing the event, Minister Nguyen said that Viet Nam always attaches importance to the relations with Laos and Cambodia.
So far, Viet Nam has invested US$3.7 billion in 1110 projects in the development triangle.
He suggested the two countries develop key transport routes which will facilitate goods transportation to seaports and trade centers.
It is necessary for the three countries to take synchronous measures to development manpower especially in fields of strength namely high-tech farming, renewable energy, mining and tourism.
The Vietnamese minister proposed the two countries craft an action plan to promote the implementation of joint agreements.
The cooperation that was forged in recent years of the CLV Development Triangle Area affirmed that over the past 25 years, the three countries have coordinated to launch a wide range of common schemes and activities as a contribution to building local economies within the region.
As a result, poverty reduction has achieved plenty of positive results, people's material and spiritual lives are constantly improving, while national defense and security have been maintained, thereby contributing to building a border of peace, stability, friendship, and mutual development of the three countries.
However, besides positive achievements, the implementation of co-operation in the region still faces many limitations and has failed to meet expectations.
Economic growth has not achieved a major breakthrough to boost local socio-economic development or shorten the development gap compared to the national average.
The development and implementation of specific policies, programs, and co-operation plans in various fields also remains slow.
This requires the three countries to make combined efforts, strengthen ties, and devise more comprehensive solutions to create breakthroughs in implementing co-operation agreements in the CLV Development Triangle Area./.