The meeting was themed “Our River of Peace and Sustainable Development”.Participants shared the view that after two years, MLC made important strides in building working mechanisms and implementing concrete projects. Some outstanding outcomes include implementing 130 projects, completing many “Early Harvest” projects, setting up centres for environmental, water resource and Mekong research cooperation, and establishing and operating the MLC Special Fund.In terms of future cooperation, the leaders reaffirmed the goal of building a Mekong-Lancang region of peace, stability, sustainable development and prosperity. They agreed that MLC needs to contribute more actively to the region’s socio-economic development, narrow the development gap among the member countries, assist the building of the ASEAN Community, and cooperate with other mechanisms like the Greater Mekong Subregion and the Mekong River Commission.The leaders adopted the Phnom Penh Declaration and the five-year MLC action plan for 2018-2022, which feature major orientations and measures for implementing cooperation in the three pillars of security-politics, economic and sustainable development, and society, culture and people-to-people exchange.They applauded the 214 MLC projects proposed by the member countries and agreed to gradually expand cooperation to big projects of the subregion on the basis of maximising the MLC Special Fund and financial sources mobilised from governments, the private sector, and international financial organisations.They agreed to consider water resource cooperation as a high priority area, increase cooperation in managing and using water resources sustainably through such activities as policy dialogue, sharing information and hydrological data, carrying out joint research and pilot projects relating to water… [Read full story]
The related meetings will include the ASEAN+1 summit (between ASEAN and each of its partners: China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and India), the ASEAN+3 summit (between ASEAN and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) and the East Asia Summit (EAS). The invitation was made by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.... [read more]
During his stay in Singaporefrom May 31 to June 1, PM Dung attended and delivered a keynoteaddress in the capacity of the keynote speaker at the dialogue. He alsopaid a courtesy call to the host country’s President Tony Tan Keng Yamand met its Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. His keynote address at the 12th Shangri La Dialogue in the evening ofMay 31 highlighted the role of a strategic trust among Asia-Pacificnations for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. The addressalso reconfirmed Vietnam ’s defense policy, which is self-defense andfor peace. He later answered questions raised bydelegates attending the dialogue.…... [read more]
Thailand’s Prime Minister AbhisitVejjajiva has cancelled his trip to Vietnam for the 16 th ASEAN summit,reported acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn on April 8.“The prime minister has to follow the red-shirt situation. He hasassigned his deputy for economic matters Trairong Suwankiri to attendthis important meeting in Hanoi on his behalf,” said spokesman Panitan.The PM’s last minute decision to cancel the trip came after the Thaigovernment on April 7 had to declare state of emergency in Bangkokand the neighbouring provinces.Despite the state of emergency, the United Democratic Front againstDictatorships – the protests organisers said they would continue toescalate the demonstrations.PM Abhisit…... [read more]
The Vietnamese delegation will attend the 20th ASEAN 3 Summit with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK); the ASEAN 1 Summit with China, Japan, the RoK, India, the US, Canada, the European Union and the United Nations; and the 12th East Asia Summit (EAS). The Vietnamese government leader will also attend the ninth Mekong – Japan Summit and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Leaders’ Meeting.ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.EAS consists of ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners -Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and…... [read more]
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will lead a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 5thGreater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand on December19-20 at the invitation of Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-ocha. An Investment Forum, Youth Forum, Development Partners' Roundtable,Business Forum and the 5th Summit of Task Force Senior Officials'Meeting will be held on the first day. A plenary session and closed-door Leaders' Retreat meeting onchallenges and future directions will take place on the second day. GMS includes Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. ... [read more]