Two accords endorsed at 6th ACMECS Summit in Myanma

NAYPYITAW, June 23 (TNA) - Government leaders of the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) have endorsed the Naypyitaw Declaration and ACMECS Plan of Action from 2016 to 2018, the content of which is in line with Thailand's policies. The endorsement was made at the 6th ACMECS Summit, held in Naypyitaw, Myanmar's capital, from June 22-23, in which Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha and government leaders of other member states, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, have participated. The significance of the Naypyitaw Declaration displays the determination of government leaders of all the ACMECS member countries to promote peace, stability and sustainable development and cooperation in eight areas, including trade and investment facilitations, agriculture, industry and energy, connectivity of transport routes, tourism, human resources development, public health and environmental conservation. Development partners outside the grouping will also be invited to join in the development programmes under the ACMECS framework. The ACMECS Plan of Action from 2016 to 2018, on the other hand, is mainly focused on promoting ACMECS as a single production base among member countries, support the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), set to be formed by the end of this year, and develop economic connectivity among member states. The ACMECS Plan of Action also welcomes outside development partners to finance projects under the ACMECS framework and local communities to participate in major projects in regional economic corridors, while also supporting the development of special economic zones and the establishment of twin cities, aimed at promoting cooperation between border cities. The content of both the endorsed documents at the 6th ACMECS is in accordance with the Thai government’s policies and helps support functions of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which all ACMECS are also member countries, and other regional frameworks in terms of reducing their development gap, promoting their cross-border connectivity and supporting their cooperation in various areas for mutual benefits, namely trade, investment and tourism, as well as their people's cross-border communications and improved living conditions. (TNA)