GMS governors forum promotes connectivity

The GMS Economic Corridor Governors Forum was held in Kunming June 10, focusing on regional connectivity, industrial cooperation, investment opportunities, policy interfaces and specific cooperative projects in the region. Governors from the six countries, as well as experts and scholars from the Asian Development and Asian Infrastructure Investment banks, attended the forum.

The forum

Over the past five years, average annual trade growth between Yunnan and GMS countries has exceeded 30 percent. The forum attendees all have clearly felt the intensifying cooperation driving such figures. Chea Thavrith, vice governor of Stung Treng, Cambodia, said in his speech that Stung Treng has abundant reserves of coal and minerals, and a number of Chinese companies have made mining investments there. He also looks forward to more cooperation in the field of agriculture.

Pragmatic cooperation is not confined to certain countries or certain areas. Savannakhet, a Laos bordering Vietnam in the east and Thailand in the west, enjoys superb geographical advantages. “We have made remarkable achievements in our previous international cooperation in the fields of agriculture, border trade and transportation. We are working to realize one-stop inspections at Laos-Thailand border checkpoints to facilitate faster customs clearances,” said Phosay Sayasone, vice governor of Savannakhet Province.

According to Pawin Chamniprasart, governor of Chiangmai Province, “Thailand maintains a sound partnership with Laos. We look forward to more and better cooperation in the future. The cooperation in cross-border e-business will not only benefit both countries, but also reduce logistics timetables for imports and exports with other countries. This will bring tangible benefits to more people and enterprises.”

By Han Chengyuan, Liu Ziyu and Zhang Ruogu

Editor: Eric Wang