ASEAN countries agree to economic cooperation

Senior representatives for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and ASEAN met here Tuesday and issued a joint statement highlighting their agreement to forge stronger mutual investment, trade, transport and scientific cooperation links. The joint statement was released at the conclusion of the 6th annual Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit, which was chaired by Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Vice President of Myanmar Mauk Kham, Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung and Secretary- General of ASEAN Le Luong Minh. In their statement, the leaders reiterated their commitment to existing agreements on promoting trade and investment. They commended, in particular, the success of the Single Stop Inspection system implemented at a Laos -- Vietnam border crossing, agreeing to expand the Single Stop system to create a network facilitating greater trade, investment, tourism and transportation. The CLMV group agreed to create greater cooperation in transport in various critical economic corridors and facilitate greater cross border movement of goods between Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. The leaders agreed that in areas such as production and processing of agricultural products, mineral exploitation, renewable energy, sustainable hydropower, oil and gas exploration, and telecommunication infrastructure, that mutual facilitation of investment should be promoted. The joint statement called for enhanced cooperation in exchanging information and technology and joint research in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, livestock, animal health and husbandry, aquaculture, industry and energy. The leaders noted with pleasure the 19.7 percent growth in tourism arrivals to CLMV countries in 2012. The leaders of Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar expressed their thanks to the government of Vietnam for providing a high level of annual scholarships, as well as other training courses, to their peoples. The next CLMV Summit will be held in 2014 in Myanmar and the first was held in Vientiane in 2004.