Leaders of CLV triangle pledge joint efforts for sustainable development
LEADERS from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos have pledged to cooperate for sustainable and inclusive growth in their development triangle area.
The ninth Summit of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV 9) reiterated the countries’ resolve to cooperate for sustainable and inclusive development.
The summit in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on Wednesday brought together Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Reviewing CLV collaboration over the past two years since the eighth meeting in Vientiane, the three leaders applauded the achievements in key areas such as security, national defence, trade-investment, agriculture, and transport and tourism, which they said contributed to promoting socio-economic development and ensuring peace and stability in the area.
They reaffirmed their commitment to forging CLV cooperation on the basis of time-honoured friendship, good and mutually beneficial neighbourliness, solidarity and mutual understanding among their countries.
The leaders displayed their resolve to work closely with one another and team up with other Asean nations in materialising the Asean Vision 2025.
They agreed to increase the connectivity of the three economies in both soft and hard infrastructure as well as people-to-people exchanges.
They assigned the Joint Coordination Committee to complete the action plan on connectivity of the Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese economies to 2030. The committee was also tasked with planning tourism development in the area.
The agricultural ministries of the three countries were asked to partner with one another in building a plan on developing the rubber industry.
The leaders affirmed their strong commitment to environmental protection, sustainable management and use of natural resources, including water and forest resources, and consented to implement programmes on cooperation in hydro-meteorology, climate-change response and water-resource management.
Joint efforts will also be made in bomb and mine clearance and the fight against drug smuggling, human trafficking, terrorism and cross-border crime.
The leaders called for more active participation of the business community and development partners in CLV projects, and agreed to enhance their coordination with Mekong Subregion cooperation mechanisms.
Phuc called on Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to build a stable and open legal framework that facilitates the cross-border circulation of goods, services and labourers as well as investment in the CLV Development Triangle Area.
He called for joint efforts in ensuring security and political stability, and environmental protection.
The countries should coordinate with one another in realising the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, seeking long-term solutions to the sustainable use of natural resources, especially their shared water resources, and attracting resources from development partners and international financial organisations, he urged.
Phuc also presented Vietnam’s proposals for cooperation in the future, including the building of mechanisms facilitating the free movement of vehicles registered in provinces inside the triangle area, the application of the “one-stop-shop” customs model at the Moc Bai-Ba Vet international border gate in 2017, and regular dialogue mechanisms among governmental offices of the three countries and businesses.
Vietnam’s Viettel group will invest in modernising the telecommunication networks in the three countries using fourth-generation technology and help with the formation of their e-governments, he said.
In this regard, Hun Sen suggested that Viettel support the establishment of video links for the three prime ministers and agencies of the three countries.
Hun Sen spoke highly of the effective CLV cooperation, which helped each country maintain political stability, effectively prevent and fight crime, and develop infrastructure, tourism and agriculture.
He noted that the parties had promptly addressed arising problems and promoted trade.
At the end of the summit, the three leaders signed the CLV 9 joint statement and passed a list of 15 priority projects calling for investment in the development triangle area.
The 10th CLV Summit will be held in Vietnam in 2018.
