Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s attendance at the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit, the 10th Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, and the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Cooperation Summit aims to send out important messages to the sub-region, the region, as well as the international community, stated Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Thanh Binh.
The first message will be the upgrading of the sub-regional cooperation. Amid the evolving global economy and green transition, digital transformation, and sustainable and inclusive development, the Mekong sub-region needs to take major steps to meet the new development demands, Binh held.
In addition to economic, trade, investment, infrastructure, and trans-boundary water resources matters, the PM and other leaders will focus on discussing new issues, especially innovation and creativity. Such new cooperation areas will serve as a strong impetus to position the GMS, ACMECS, and CLMV mechanisms not only as traditional core frameworks for sub-regional cooperation but also as pioneering mechanisms that elevate the Mekong sub-region to a new level in the regional and international value chains, he said.
The second message will be the strengthening of political trust among members. The summits will gather all countries along the Mekong River, as well as neighbouring nations that have longstanding friendly relations with Vietnam. PM Cꦦhinh will join activities with representatives from governments, localities, and businesses, and citizens of these countries, particularly with host China. This is an important opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its willingness to cooperate in an open spirit, enhance mutual understanding, and deepen the friendly relations with member countries, as well as promote comprehensive economic, trade, and investment cooperation.
Vietnam also aims to maintain the positive momentum of its relations with China and further realise the common perceptions reached during Party General Secretary To Lam's official visit to the neighbouring country in August 2024, while maintaining high-level exchanges, strengthening political trust, promoting practical cooperation, and developing stable, healthy, and sustainable relations at both central and local levels.
The third message lies with the enhancement of Vietnam’s position and reputation at the international arena. PM Chinh's participation in the summits demonstrates Vietnam's commitment to the GMS, ACMECS, and CLMV mechanisms, as well as the Mekong sub-region cooperation. It reaffirms the country's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation, and being a friend and a trustworthy partner, and an active, responsible member of the international community, the Deputy FM stated.
Regarding the PM's major activities during his trip from November 5-8, the official said that the Government leader will participate in and deliver important speeches at the three summits. He will also hold bilateral meetings with several important partners, attend tourism promotion activities, engage in seminars with businesses, and visit various economic and logistics facilities in Kunming and Chongqing of China.
The PM is scheduled to hold working sessions with many important partners who have potential for cooperation with Vietnam at all levels, including development partners, multilateral financial institutions, central government agencies, ministries, local authorities, and Chinese businesses. Additionally, he will meet the Vietnamese community in China.
The leader will focus on promoting cooperation areas that align with Vietnam's development priorities in the new context. This includes strengthening traditional advantages such as the import and export of goods and services, enhancing infrastructure connectivity, and ensuring the sustainable and efficient management of trans-boundary water resources.
Vietnam will actively seek resources to tap significant potential in science and technology, innovation, smart solutions, digital transformation, and green transition, all aimed at supporting its socio-economic development and fulfilling its commitments to sustainable development and emissions reduction, the Deputy FM said./.
