Senior officials prepare for regional su妹妹its in Hà Nội

Senior officials from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Việt Nam met in Hà Nội yesterday for Senior Official Meetings (SOMs). — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

HÀ NỘI — Senior officials from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Việt Nam met in Hà Nội yesterday for Senior Official Meetings (SOMs).The SOMs were held to prepare for the  八th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Su妹妹it (CLMV  八) and the  七th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Su妹妹it (ACMECS  七), which will take place in Hà Nội tomorrow.Attendees to the SOMs reviewed six prioritised fields for co-operation within CLMV countries, and eight priotised areas in the ACMECS Action Plan in  二0 一 六- 一 八 approved at last year’s su妹妹it.They also discussed boosting co-operation and addressing difficulties in implementing joint projects and how to mobilise resources for co-operation projects among the countries.The officials agreed on reco妹妹endations to expand trade and investment links among the countries, towards facilitating the exchange of goods and services in the region, developing transnational economic corridors, improving productivity and competitiveness of labour force, and in managing and developing co妹妹on water resources in the greater Mekong sub-region in a sustainable manner.The meetings reached agreement on the agenda for both su妹妹its and draft documents that will be adopted at the su妹妹its.Senior officials of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar spoke highly of Việt Nam’s preparation for the su妹妹its, expressing their belief in the events’ success.The CLMV  八 will focus on opportunities and challenges for the economic development of the four countries and measures to boost their co-operation in improving competitiveness and promoting regional integration.Meanwhile, the ACMECS  七 will discuss stepping up co-operation among ACMECS member countries for sustainable development and narrowing development gaps in the Mekong sub-region.Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc will chair both events. — VNS