Wen: GMS cooperation effective, leaves successful experience

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Kunming on July 5 that the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) economic cooperation program had not only reaped bounty fruits, but also left its participants a host of successful practices and experience.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Second GMS Summit in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Wen said that the practices and experience could be summarized as follows:

- Conducting equal-footed consultation with mutual respect.

The GMS countries, although divergent in size and level of development, are all equal members in the Program.

- Focusing on practical results through closer cooperation.

Projects shall be chosen in the light of varying development needs of different countries and regions. A full and rational use of the cooperation fund is also a guarantee that benefits are shared by as many people as possible.

- Listing priorities and proceeding in an orderly fashion.

Success and practicality are attainable when resources and cooperation efforts are concentrated on projects that will give a strong push to the economy. At the same time, cooperation in other areas shall be carried out in steps and phases.

- Coordinating actions with an overall planning.

Alongside economic cooperation, vigorous efforts must be devoted to, among others, human resources development and environmental protection.

Apart from infrastructure improvement, institutional innovation and policy adjustment will also contribute to better subregional climate for trade and investment.

Wen said that that the afore-mentioned practices and experience reflect different characteristics and requirements of various members and serve the common interests and shared goals of all the

members. They embody the flexibility and pragmatism of the GMS cooperation and underpin its longevity.

"No wonder they have been widely endorsed by all parties, and we should carry them forward on a long-term basis," the premier said.

GMS program effective in promoting regional economy: Chinese premier

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program has played an increasingly important role in economic growth of this region.

In the world today, the quickening pace of economic globalization and regional integration has made countries more dependent on each other by way of mutually beneficial economic cooperation, said Wen at the opening ceremony of the Second GMS Summit.

As the economically most dynamic continent in the world, Asia has embraced a number of regional and subregional cooperation programs, he said.

Thanks to such cooperation that is equal-footed, proactive, pragmatic, diversified, open and inclusive, countries in Asia have enhanced political mutual trust and expanded common interests, adding a new boost to Asia's economic development, the premier noted.

As far as the GMS is concerned, its member countries sit next to each other and share similar cultures, sound political ties and close people-to-people contacts, said Wen.

"All of us are at a critical stage of development," he said.

"These have necessitated and enabled our mutually beneficial cooperation."

Since the inception of the GMS Program, he said, the member countries have conducted cooperation in such areas as transportation, energy, telecommunications, trade, investment, tourism, environment, human resources and agriculture, effectively carried out over 100 specific cooperation programs and completed a number of flagship projects.

As a result, it has promoted the economic and social development in the GMS countries, benefited tens of thousands of people, particularly the poor, and contributed to peace in this region and beyond, the premier said.

Source: Xinhua