5 ASEAN countries pursue greater economic unity

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VIENTIANE, March 13 (Xinhua) — Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and the ASEAN secretariat completed an annual summit here on Wednesday with pledging to deepen ties and work towards building the countries into a single production base to mutual economic gain.

The Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, so named for the three major river systems of the five member countries, is an annual event designed to narrow the development gaps between the member countries while working towards a sustainable development as a unified economic entity.

“Achievements in the ACMECS cooperation as well as enhancing regional economic integration are integral to ASEAN community building by 2015,” said Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong.

Eight priority areas will be targeted by the ACMECS countries: trade and investment, agriculture, energy, transportation linkages, tourism, human resource development, health and the environment.

The event, which ran from March 11 to March 13, occurred in conjunction with the 6th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit in Vientiane. Both meetings concluded with a consensus for greater economic cooperation and ties.

Noted by both summits was the success of the Single Stop system border crossing inaugurated between Vietnam and Laos. Both summits called for the expansion of this system throughout member nations where possible.

The first ACMECS Summit was held in 2003 in Myanmar, after the idea was raised by former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra the same year.

The emphasis of the strategy is to use self-help and partnerships to build sustainable development. The strategy is designed to work in conjunction with the existing UN development strategies and the regional integration goals of the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community plan.

By Yang Yi   |   Monday, 13 March 2013  |   The Myanmar Times
 

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