Vientiane (VNA) – Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam should outline breakthroughmeasures for infrastructure and human resources development as well asinstitutional reform so as to carry out and build cooperation plans for theCambodia – Laos – Vietnam (CLV) Development Triangle Area, Minister of Planningand Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said on March 1.

While chairing the 13th Meeting of the JointCoordination Committee on CLV Development Triangle Area in Attapeu province,Laos, with Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Khamjane Vongphosi andCambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul, he stressed that Vietnamalways treasures the relations with the two neighbours and takes this as a strategicmission and top priority in the country’s foreign policy.

The CLV Development Triangle Area, established 25 years ago, hascontributed to promoting socio-economic development, regional connectivity aswell as exchanges among parliaments, governments, organisations, and peoplesthrough comprehensive cooperation across transport, telecommunications, energy,trade, investment, industry, finance-banking, agriculture, tourism andhealthcare, among others, he said.

However, he pointed out that the results still lag behind expectation and havenot created breakthroughs for the development of localities in the region.

Against this backdrop, he suggested the countries prioritise resources to buildkey transport routes for cargo delivery to ports and shopping malls, and work out harmonious measures to develop human resources with a view to attractinginvestments, especially in areas of their strengths such as high-techagriculture, renewable energy, mining, and tourism.

In the meantime, they should pen action plans to accelerate the effectiveimplementation of the agreements signed in thecooperation framework of the Development Triangle Area, and study to concretiseand adopt special policies for the area to encourage trade and investment, focusing on border trade and economic and infrastructure development inborder areas.

It is necessary to simplify procedures for cross-border transport ofgoods, preservation of agricultural products and quality verification to reducelabour and transport costs, he said, adding the countries should createfavourable conditions for projects in high-tech agriculture, solar and wind powerenergy. and exploiting and processing industries.

He also laid a stress on the significance to rapidly and effective carry out anaction plan to connect the three economies to improve competitive edge, lureforeign investments, and narrow the development gap with other ASEAN memberstates.

According to Dung, besides economy, the countries should pay due attention tostrengthening cooperation in security-foreign affairs, society and environment,and stepping up provincial-level collaboration.

At the meeting, the ministers recognised the positive cooperation of thethree countries to complete a report to review the implementation of the masterplan on socio-economic development of the area until 2020 and put forth a draftvision for the area until 2030 and beyond. They agreed to submit the report andproposal to the 12th CLV Summit on Development Triangle Area inCambodia this year.

They spoke highly of the countries’ efforts in carrying out the Agreement onTrade Promotion and Facilitation in the CLV Development Triangle, and askedcompetent agencies and localities to enhance trade promotion activities andattract enterprises from outside to land investment in the area.

Additionally, they encouraged the CLV nations to work closely with one anotherto seek support or financial resources for development projects, especially therealisation of the Action Plan for CLV Economic Connectivity up to 2030.

The ministers reaffirmed the resolve to bolster cooperation in foreign affairsand security through the existing CLV cooperation mechanisms as well as otherbilateral cooperation frameworks to ensure peace, stability, cooperation,sustainable development, and prosperity in the area. 

Furthermore, they also agreed to collaborate in climate change response, biodiversityprotection, and development of the green and circular economy, among others, tocontribute to the sustainable and comprehensive development in the area and thethree countries as a whole.

The CLV Development Triangle Area covers fourCambodian provinces (Ratanakiri, Stung Treng, Mondulkiri, Kratie), four Laoprovinces (Attapeu, Salavan, Sekong, Champasak), and five Vietnamese provinces(Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Binh Phuoc).

It was set up to enhance solidarity and cooperation among the three countriesto ensure security, political stability, poverty alleviation, and socio-economicdevelopment in the area. Over the past 25 years, Vietnamese businesses haveinjected more than 3.7 billion USD in 110 projects in the area./.