Hanoi (VNA) – In a fast changing world, the Mekong -Ganga cooperation (MGC) should prioritise assisting member countries to improvetheir competitiveness and obtain sustainable development, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told the 12th MGCMinisterial Meeting on July 16.

The hybrid event saw the participation of the foreignministers of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and India.

In his speech, Son affirmed the importance Vietnam attachesto and its effective contributions to the MGC.

Suggesting three groups of cooperation measures, he said thatfirst, economic connectivity between the Mekong countries and India should beenhanced to boost recovery and sustainable growth, new measures devised tofacilitate cross-border trade, investment opportunities promoted, businesses’connectivity supported, transport connectivity stepped up, and micro-, small-and medium-sized enterprises assisted.

Second, member countries should guarantee a greenand sustainable future for the next generations via cooperation in response to food, water and energy security challenges; transferring technology andinvesting in clean and renewable energy; and mobilising resources for supportingenergy transition. And

Third, they should increase people-to-people exchanges to helpstrengthen their friendship and partnerships.

The minister called for boosting cooperation ineducation and vocational training to help meet the huge demand for high-qualityhuman resources, and expanding tourism links, especially in culinary and weddingtourism, to help recover the economies. He also asked India to continue assistingthe Mekong countries to preserve UNESCO-recognised cultural heritage elements.

The Vietnamese official also proposed some jointactivities to mark the MGC’s 25th anniversary in 2025.

At the meeting, participants noted that for more than 20years since its inception, the MGC has helped reinforce friendship, promotesocio-economic development, narrow the development gap among the members, andcontribute to the building of the ASEAN Community and the realisation of the UNSustainable Development Goals for 2030.

The Mekong countries appreciated India’s financial aid for 105projects on reducing poverty in remote areas and supplying clean water andbuilding houses of culture in rural areas under the Quick Impact Projects (QIPs)programme, including 46 projects in Vietnam.

They shared the view that the region is facing manychallenges in the post-pandemic period, but there are also numerous opportunitiesthey need to seize.

Discussing the MGC orientations for the coming time, theministers agreed to focus on trade and investment facilitation, connectivityenhancement, education, sustainable management of transboundary waterresources, science and technology, agriculture, health care, culture, andtourism.

They highly valued and approved India’s initiative on setting up a mechanism for coordinating the MGC sectoral cooperation and an MGCbusiness council to encourage enterprises’ contributions and boost substantivecooperation, thereby generating benefits for people and businesses.

The officials agreed to extend the MGC Plan of Action 2019 -2022 until the end of 2024, and to hold the 13th MGCMinisterial Meeting in 2024./.