THINK TANKS FROM PAN-BEIBU GULF COUNTRIES PROPOSE JOINT EXPERTS GROUP

By Vincent Low

NANNING, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- Think tanks from Pan Beibu Gulf countries Friday presented a five-point joint proposal, which included the setting up of a joint experts group to reinforce cooperation and strengthen joint planning of infrastructure construction in the region.

The joint proposal was released by the Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian
Strategy and Leadership Institute, Dr. Michael Yeoh on behalf of his
counterparts at the 5th Pan Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum here.

Suggestion was also made for the experts group to complete the relevant
feasibility research report for approval of the countries concerned, to upgrade
the Nanning-Singapore Economic Corridor program into a state strategy.

Nanning, the capital city of Guangxi, is one of the starting points for the
3,500-kilometer transnational trade route linking China, Vietnam, Laos,
Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

The Pan Beibu Gulf rim cooperation forum includes China, Vietnam, Malaysia,
Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei.

At the forum, calls were also made for the countries along the Economic
Corridor to put on top of their agenda the construction of the railways,
expressways, ports and information facilities closely related to the Economic
Corridor to enhance inter-connection of the countries and facilitate the
trans-border passenger and cargo transport and Customs clearance.

The joint proposal also suggested relevant multi-level cooperation
machanisms to be established within the China-ASEAN (10+1) Cooperation
Framework, which includes the think tanks cooperation forum, the machanisms on
tourist cooperation and international logistics cooperation etc.

Meantime, presenting the proposal, Yeoh said the land passage between
Nanning and Singapore was crucial to the China-Asean economic and trade
cooperation and economic and social development of countries along the corridor.

"Apart from building and improving the transportation infrastructures
including roads, railways, water passages and air routes and the ports and
information facilities along the Nanning-Singapore Economic Corridor, they
should give priority to logistics, tourist, economic and trade cooperation so it
may remarkably boost development and prosperity of the countries along the
corridor and even that of Myanmar, and other surrounding countries," added Yeoh.
-- BERNAMA