Cooperation in Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area

(VOVworld)- The Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area covers 13 provinces located in eastern Cambodia, southern Laos, and the central highlands of Vietnam. Localities in this area have strengthened cooperation in transportation, energy, trade, investment, and training.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen introduced an initiative to establish the Development Triangle in Vientiane in 1999 at the first summit of Cambodian, Laos, and Vietnamese Prime Ministers. At the 2^nd CLV summit in HCM City in 2002, the Prime Ministers pledged to boost cooperation in transportation, trade, electricity, tourism, human resource training and health care in this region. At the 10^th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane in 2004, the Prime Ministers of the three countries signed the Vientiane Declaration on the establishment of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle and ratified the Master Plan on Socio-Economic Development in the Development Triangle Area. The three Prime Ministers also attended the first CLV-Japan summit.

At the 5^th CLV-Japan summit in Vientiane in November, 2008, the Prime Ministers agreed on priorities for strengthening the Development Triangle like simplifying administrative procedures to facilitate travel in the region, mobilizing the resources of each country, attracting investment and developing preferential policies for the region. The 6^th CLV summit in Phnompenh, Cambodia in 2010, adopted revisions to the Master Plan on Socio-Economic Development in the Development Triangle until 2020 proposed by Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment. The Prime Ministers signed the summit’s joint statement and witnessed the signing of revisions to the MOU on Preferential Policies for the Development Triangle Area.

The three countries have strengthened cooperation in transportation, energy, trade, investment, and training in this area. They have set up a Joint Coordination Committee for the Development Triangle Area which is comprised of 4 sub-committees on economics, society and environment, locality, and security and foreign affairs. Each country appoints a Minister to co-chair the Committee. Members of the Coordination Committee include representatives of relevant ministries and sectors and localities in the area. Three countries will rotate hosting the annual meeting of the Coordination Committee.

The 9^th CLV Summit which will be held in Cambodia on November 23^rd will review the implementation of decisions made at the 8^th CLV Summit and the Master Plan on Socio-Economic Development in the Development Triangle Area in the 2010-2020 period.