Date: 2010/11/22Author: XinhuaDerivation: Xinhua Net

A Myanmar state newspaper, the New Light of Myanmar, said on Monday in

its editorial that the country hoped member countries of the

Ayeyawaddy-Chaophraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) will

be able to further promote regional cooperation, stability and

development through their good neighborliness.

ACMECS countries, which comprise Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, share border with each other.

The 4th ACMECS Summit was held in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia on

Nov. 17, attended by prime minister of respective countries.

Myanmar prime minister U Thein Sein stressed at the summit the need to

motivate the respective organs implementing the process of ACMECS

through fulfilling their obligations, to speed up the establishment of

ASEAN Community in 2015 and to provide assistance for both government

and private sectors to be able to achieve success on common goals.

At the summit, the ACMECS prime ministers discussed importance of

private sector's participation in promoting the cooperation between the

member countries, promotion of the role of the economic council and

cooperation on the industrial and energy sectors.

The prime ministers also exchanged views on enhancement of global

tourism, environmental conservation, formation of cooperative task

forces and ensuring trade and investment development.

The summit approved the ACMECS Phnom Penh Declaration and future program (2010-12).

In November 2003, the original four countries -- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar

and Thailand held their first ACMECS summit in Myanmar's ancient city

of Bagan, laying down ACMECS program which provides for cooperation in

five main strategic areas of agriculture, industry, trade and

investment, transport, tourist and human resources development.

Vietnam joined the ACMECS in 2004.

In May 2007, ACMECS foreign ministers met in Myanmar's Mandalay,

pledging to work for greater competitiveness, narrower economic

disparity and promoting socio-economic development in the subregion.

Calling for realization of their 2003 Bagan Declaration efficiently and

effectively, the foreign ministers also expressed their desire to

strengthen the aims and objectives of the declaration and work for

attaining prosperity in the subregion through enhanced solidarity,

mutual respect, goods neighborliness and active cooperation among the

member countries.

Article Source: www.asean-cn.org/Item/1369.aspx