Myanmar vice president reiterates GMS' continued role in ASEAN economic life

Myanmar Vice President U Nyan Tun Thursday stressed the importance of the strategic role to be continuously played by Greater Mekong Subregion-Economic Cooperation Program (GMS) in the economic life of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations.

U Nyan Tun made the remarks at the 20th GMS Ministerial Conference held in Nay Pyi Taw under the theme of "Taking Action for Inclusive and Sustainable Development", saying that it will contribute to the strengthening of the region's overall competitive performance and the long-term development of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

He expressed that GMS economic cooperation program is particularly important and has a strategic role to play in coordinating economic restructuring efforts among the GMS members as part of the ASEAN and more broadly throughout the East Asia region.

He cited some bilateral cooperations such as the already opened Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River and New Asia Road during this year, saying the inauguration of the friendship bridge helps create cross-border trade and ease transportation between the two nations and their neighbors including China, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh and India.

He also said the New Asia Road, one of the portions of the Ease- West Economic Corridor in GMS region, improves not only the trade facilitation between Myanmar and Thailand but also promote the socio-economic condition of border inhabitants of both sides.

Supported by the Asian Development Bank, the six-country GMS Economic Cooperation Program, which includes Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam sharing the Mekong River, started in 1992. Endi