Senior officials discuss preparations for 6th GMS Summit
Senior officials of the Greater Mekong Sub-region and representatives from the Asia Development Bank gathered in Hanoi on March 12 to discuss preparations for the sixth GMS Summit slated for later this month.
Hanoi (VNA) – Senior officials of the Greater Mekong Sub-region(GMS), including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam, andrepresentatives from the Asia Development Bank gathered in Hanoi on March 12 todiscuss preparations for the sixth GMS Summit slated for later this month.
At the meeting, participants exchanged views on the summit’sagenda, contents of documents to be submitted to the countries’ leaders and preparationsrelated to reception, logistics and media.
GMS was established in 1992 as an initiative of the ADB. TheGMS Cooperation Programme is the most complete cooperation programme thatinvolves Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and China’s Yunnan andGuangxi provinces. The programme prioritises infrastructure development,energy, telecommunication, tourism, trade-investment, human resources, andenvironment.
To realise the common goal of turning the GMS into aprosperous, integrated and harmonious region, leaders of the GMS countriesapproved a 10-year strategic framework at the fourth GMS Summit in thePhilippines in 2011, making it a foundation for GMS cooperation orientationsfrom 2012 to 2022 to boost regional and extra-regional integration andcooperation.
Vietnam has participated actively in the GMS economiccooperation initiative since its establishment. The country’s participation hasbrought about positive results in economic development and poverty reduction.As of December 2016, cooperation projects within the GMS framework were valuedat 5.63 billion USD, of which transport accounted for 87 percent and urbandevelopment 7.9 percent.-VNA
Vietnam will host the sixth Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Summit and the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) Development Triangle Summit in Hanoi from March 29-31.
With financial aid from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other sponsors, the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Programme has supported the region to carry out a number of priority projects with notable outcomes recorded in the field of transport.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged the organising board of the 6th Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit and the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit to forge ahead with thorough preparations for the events which are scheduled in Hanoi from March 29-31.
Vietnam is deeply concerned about the escalating and complex conflict in the Middle East, which poses a serious threat to the lives and safety of civilians, as well as to regional and global peace and stability.
The Vietnamese Embassy advises the Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in Israel to strictly comply with directions from the Home Front Command and local authorities.
Lawmakers are set to vote on revisions and amendments to a broad spectrum of legal frameworks and impactful resolutions during the final week of the 15th NA's 9th session.
The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOVA) has served as a bridge connecting and uniting the community with the homeland, becoming a trusted source of support for Vietnamese expats in times of hardship.
The programme to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses has achieved notable results, with nearly 263,000 housing units addressed to date, including 225,000 houses inaugurated and 38,000 under construction. Thirty-eight provinces and cities across the nation have already fulfilled their targets.
Stronger efforts and determination are required to achieve and surpass the set targets, especially in the eradication of makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide, the acceleration of public investment disbursement, and the implementation of nationally important transport projects, PM Pham Minh Chinh noted.
The trip will be made at the invitations of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
An overview of the meeting (Source: vov.vn) 
