E-Paper>China Daily>Home News
       
 

Mekong forum gathers gov't and biz chiefs
By Wu Jiachun and Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-04 05:37

KUNMING: Tremendous business opportunities have been afforded over the years by the founding of the Greater Mekong Sub-Region Economic Co-operation Program (GMS Program), said Jin Liqun, vice-president of Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday.

The image taken on October 15, 2004 shows a section of the Lancang River (upper reach of the Mekong River) in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. [newsphoto]
And today, the six countries that share the Mekong River China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam "are aggressively pursuing policy and institutional reforms to encourage greater private sector participation in critical areas," he said.

Jin made the remarks at the opening of the Forum on Business Participation for Co-operation in the GMS, a supplement to the two-day Second GMS Summit, which will be opened and presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao from today. Wen arrived in Kunming yesterday.

Prime ministers of the six GMS member countries will gather today to review the progress of co-operation and chart the future course of action by passing a leaders' declaration and signing a series of co-operative agreements.

And the Chinese Government will issue the second State report explaining its stance on participating in GMS co-operation during the summit meeting.

About 300 business executives and policy-makers participated in the business forum yesterday to exchange views on how the government and business sectors can further collaborate in addressing development issues confronting the Greater Mekong River. They will meet leaders today to discuss how to further enhance the role of business in the GMS, especially in the fields of transportation, telecommunications, energy, trade and tourism.

Jin noted that the dialogue would be a landmark event, setting the stage for a new era of co-operation between the GMS's public and private sectors. The GMS regional co-operation programme, which ADB has been supporting since 1992, has been actively promoting the participation of the private sector in GMS activities.

Statistics from ADB showed that since the inception of the GMS programme, foreign direct investment has increased three times, total exports have grown six-fold and intra-regional exports have grown more than 10-fold in the sub-region. Annual GDP growth across the region has averaged over 6 per cent during the last few years.



Racers compete in Miao Dragon Boat Festival
Child happiness in collecting shellfish
Giant Panda in Fuzhou
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

Domestic resources 'yet to be tapped'

 

   
 

CNOOC volunteers for acquisition review

 

   
 

China-Russian communique released

 

   
 

Mekong forum gathers gov't and biz chiefs

 

   
 

Japanese toxic gas plant discovered

 

   
 

Thai PM seeks out roots in Meizhou

 

   
  Japan, China OK expanded tourist visas
   
  Fund to help children suffering from leukemia
   
  Japan's wartime gas plant found in N. China
   
  China's CNOOC defends bid for Unocal
   
  China, Russia warn of world domination
   
  35% of Beijingers suffer chronic diseases: official
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
China promotes Mekong subregion cooperation
   
Floods, storms kill 36 in Vietnam's Mekong Delta
   
Rafters to challenge the Mekong
   
Mekong River region awaits take off
   
China can help on Mekong's future
   
Prospects rosy for agriculture
   
Transportation net takes shape
  News Talk  
  It is time to prepare for Beijing - 2008  
Advertisement