Ministers attending the 18th Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS)Ministerial Conference in Nanning, China, have agreed that the nextphase of GMS investments should expand to new areas such as multi-sectorinvestments towards urban development, connecting remote areas withgrowth centres, and extending existing corridors into Myanmar.

The two-day conference drew the participation of officials fromCambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnamto evaluate achievements in the past and establish future prioritiesfor investment.

The event was also joined bydevelopment partners such as Australia, Japan, US, InternationalOrganisation for Migration, Mekong River Commission, and UNESCAP.

The meeting endorsed a number of recent initiatives, including theplanned establishment of the Regional Power Coordination Centre, actionplans for human resources development and HIV reduction, the extensionof the agriculture support programme, and the decision to create aGreater Mekong Railway Association as a first step to boost cross borderrail connectivity.

The GMS Environment Atlas was also launchedat the meeting, signalling the sub-region’s commitment to environmentalsustainability.

Since its inception in 1992, the GMSprogramme has invested 15 billion USD in sub-regional roads, airportsand railways, telecommunications, energy, urban development, tourism,environmental protection and the prevention of communicable diseases.-VNA