SIEM REAP – Leaders of Cambodia, Laos and Việt Nam have agreed to develop the connectivity of the three economies as an important task in the near future, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said after the 9th Summit of Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) Development Triangle Area (CLV 9).

Speaking at a joint press conference after the summit he co-chaired with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, PM Phúc said the three countries shared the viewpoint that they will continue to closely coordinate and make use of every opportunity and resource to serve development, including help from partners such as Japan and the ADB, among others.

He stressed that the private sector will be encouraged to participate in the CLV co-operation mechanism.

According to Cambodia PM Hun Sen, those at the summit praised the outcomes of CLV co-operation in the fields of trade, investment, tourism, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges.

He further noted that the CLV development triangle has been transformed from operating within an underdeveloped area, into a region with promising economic development, where local living conditions have improved dramatically.

Hun Sen cited, as an example, the surge in Cambodia’s per capita income, which rose from US$294 a year when the country joined the CLV development triangle, to $1,300 today.

The PM said the three sides pledged to provide more incentives and favourable conditions for trade and investment within the triangle. The countries will complete the tourism development plan for the region and a plan of action to connect the three economies, not only in transport, but also in infrastructure, energy and tourism.

Lao PM Sisoulith praised the joint statement and the outcome of the summit, affirming that the three countries will work closely to carry out the agreements.

Leaders of the three countries also reached a consensus on the use of the telecommunication network to establish links allowing leaders and agencies of the three countries to regularly discuss and tackle issues in a timely manner.

They also agreed on a proposal for Việt Nam to set up a vocational training centre to serve the developing triangle area.

In the spirit of the agreements, the three countries will continue their close coordination in economics and investment, while working together in ensuring political security, peace and stability along their borders, laying a firm foundation for their cooperation in culture, education and particularly tourism.

The three leaders agreed to work together in fulfilling the UN Millennium Goals to 2030, with special attention paid to the protection of the environment and the management and use of water resources and other natural resources.

Meanwhile, PM Phúc said Việt Nam’s telecommunication service provider Viettel can assist in establishing links for online meetings among the three countries’ leaders and agencies.

Viettel will also support the building of e-government in the three countries, and set charges for Viettel users in the three countries at similar levels for domestic calls, thus helping put in place investment activities and serve tourists and residents in Việt Nam, Laos and Cambodia. — VNS