Mekong - U.S. Partnership
Senior officials of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam met with those from the United States to discuss sustainable economic growth in the Mekong sub-region in Yangon, Myanmar on June 8.
The Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) SOM meeting, which involved the five Mekong countries and the U.S., touched upon cooperation for the next five years and preparation for the 7th LMI Foreign Ministerial Meeting.
Participants acknowledged the initiative’s significance in the regional cooperation, elaborating the successful implementation of numerous projects on the Environment and Water, Health, Education, Connectivity, Energy Security, Agriculture and Food Security.
At the Friends of lower Mekong (FLM) SOM meeting, delegates reaffirmed their plan to increase connection with the Mekong sub-region countries, thus narrowing development gaps and supporting the settlement of common challenges in the region.
They agreed to raise sustainable development as the topic of LMI and FLM Foreign Ministerial Meetings to be held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar in this August.
Addressing the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh, head of the Vietnamese delegation, stressed the promotion of cooperation outcomes for the future LMI partnership, with focus given on needs and sustainable development of the sub-region.
Specific projects should be combined with policy dialogue, especially with regard to the management and sustainable use of Mekong River water resources, he said.
The Deputy FM proposed the FLM increase information sharing while stepping up coordination between existing cooperation mechanisms.
The FLM includes the five Mekong sub-region countries, the U.S., Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union. -VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
Source URL: http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Cooperation-in-lower-Mekong-stepped-up/20146/51290.vnplus
