Phnom Penh (VNA) – Seniorofficials of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam met in Kratieprovince of Cambodia on March 9 to prepare for the 12th meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee onthe Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (JCC CLV DTA) that will open on March 10.

The meeting drew the attendance of Cambodian Under-Secretary of State at the Ministryof Commerce Sok Sopheak, VietnameseDeputy Minister of Planning and Investment Le Quang Manh, Vietnamese Ambassadorto Cambodia Vu Quang Minh, and Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Thongphan Savanphet.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment LeQuang Manh said that representatives of the three countries will proposeeffective measures and practical initiatives to the heads of the three coordinationcommittees at their meeting on March 10, paving the way for high-levelagreements and specific directions to promote the development cooperation inthe development triangle.

Currently, cooperation projects in the border areas of Vietnam, Laosand Cambodia have been underway, especially in hydropower, mining and mineralprocessing, industrial crop planting and processing, he noted.

Experts held that smooth mechanisms and policies have been provided forthe investment and trade partnership in the region.

So far, Vietnam has run 49 projects in the development triangle inCambodia with total capital of 1.63 billion USD. The country’s investment inthe development triangle in Laos is 1.97 billion USD of 67 projects.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s five border provinces in the development trianglehave attracted 233 projects from 20 countries and territories with total investmentof 2.3 billion USD, said Manh.

However, Manh pointed out that transport upgrade and expansion projectsin the region have lagged behind the schedule, while the tripartite cooperationhas yet to put effective influence on socio-economic development in borderlocalities, along with limited resources for development investment and shortcomingsin trade cooperation, tax policies and investment procedures.

The Cambodia-Laos-VietnamDevelopment Triangle Area was established in 1999 with the initial membership of10 provinces: Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong (Vietnam); Sekong, Attapeu,Saravan (Laos); and Rattanakiri, Mondulkiri (Cambodia). Vietnam’s Binh Phuocprovince, Laos’ Champasak province and Kratie of Cambodia were added into thegroup in 2009.

Thegroup aims to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation among the threecountries and ensure security, political stability as well as promote povertyreduction and socio-economic development in the area.

TheCLV Development Triangle focuses on areas of security-diplomacy, transport,industry, agriculture, trade, investment, social affairs, and environmentalprotection.

At the 12th meeting of the JCC CLV DTA, Vietnam will sendrepresentatives of Dak Nong, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Binh Phuoc provincesas well as a number of ministries.

The meeting will focus on evaluating the implementation of commitmentsof ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia at the previous meeting, pointingput difficulties and seeking settlement solutions as well as orientation forcooperation of 13 provinces in the development triangle.-VNA