China expects new consensus in GMS cooperation

BEIJING - China expects to reach new consensus with relevant countries on development agendas during the upcoming fifth summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation, a Chinese diplomat said Friday.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will attend the summit in Thailand next week, and it will be the first time he has attended the GMS Economic Cooperation summit, Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Chao said.

The GMS has economic growth potential, leaders will discuss inclusive and sustainable development in the region and aim to deepen partnerships, Wang said.

The GMS Economic Cooperation Program was started in 1992 by the six countries that the Mekong River crosses -- Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. It aims to link the six countries through improvements in infrastructure, thereby, promoting trade and investment and stimulating economic growth.

"We hope the GMS will enhance regional economic integration, infrastructure and, economy, trade and environmental protection," Wang said.

The GMS cooperation covers ten fields at present, including transportation, energy, agriculture, environmental protection, human resources, urbanization, tourism, trade facilitation, information and transnational economic cooperation, Wang said.

Wang said the fifth summit will pass a leaders' declaration, which aims to promote a more open and inclusive partnership for the GMS economic cooperation.

The upcoming summit will provide a strong impetus for the sub-regional cooperation by identifying 92 priority investment projects and passing a investment framework plan from 2014 to 2018, Wang said.

In addition, a regional railway alliance and an assessment report on regional transportation strategy from 2006 to 2015 will also be discussed.

Wang said the summit would also release a series of reports on energy and human resources, providing references for cooperation in the relevant areas.