Vietnam , Laos and Thailand have agreed to boost geo-economic axis cooperation in their triangle development area.
The
axis includes the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum and central
coastal provinces of Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh of Vietnam , the Thai
northeastern provinces of Ubon Ratchathani and Sisaket, and southern Lao
provinces of Champasak, Sekong and Attapeu.
The eight provinces
have their own advantages, such as the economic potential of the sea in
Vietnamese provinces, and major crops and minerals in Thai and Lao
provinces, which promise to play an important socio-economic
development role in these provinces and the region in the near future.
At
a recent conference in Kon Tum province, the provinces’ representatives
agreed on a mechanism linking the eight provinces in line with the
principles of mutual support and assistance for sustainable economic
growth, and social progress on the basis of respect of independence,
sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and non-interference in
each other’s internal affairs.
The provinces defined
possible areas for cooperation, including developing the Phu Cua border
economic cooperation area in Attapeu province of Laos and the Bo Y
international border gate in Kon Tum province, Vietnam , into a
border trade centre. The three countries will join hands in planting
industrial crops such as rubber, coffee, and building processing
facilities in their provinces, as well as in conserving and developing
forest resources. They agreed to cooperate to study and survey the
possibility of launching tourist routes and passenger exchanges.
In addition, they also agreed to cooperate and invest in construction
of energy projects and electricity transmission networks and coordinate
in mineral exploration and processing projects, as well as completing
roads connecting localities and leading to seaports and major economic
centres. Provinces will research cooperative forms for personnel
training, including language training, and consider the establishment of
centres for information on trade and tourism.
Cao Khoa, Chairman
of the Quang Ngai Provincial People’s Committee, highlighted the
important role of provincial authorities and businesses in cooperative
activities and for the success of the programme, saying that it is
essential to combine the resolve of the eight provinces with support
of the three countries’ governments and the active and effective
participation of provincial business communities.
Bouasone
Vongsongkhone , Vice Governor of Champasak p rovince, hailed the
significance of the first meeting, saying that it offers an
opportunity to enhance cooperation and exchange experience
among the project’s provinces .
Nguyen Van Hung , Chairman
of the Kon Tum Provincial People’s Committee, said that the meeting
is only the initial step to carry out ideas on cooperation and
mechanisms presented by the provinces. Kon Tum in its capacity as host
will continue to complete documents for the provinces to submit to their
governments. The cooperative documents are expected to be signed at the
second conference scheduled to be held in Thailand in 2012./.
