On the afternoon of July 16, 2023, the 12th Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in a combined online and in-person format with the participation of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and India. Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son led the Vietnamese delegation to the conference.
Delegates assessed that MGC cooperation after more than 20 years of formation and development has contributed to strengthening friendship, promoting socio-economic development, narrowing the development gap between member countries, contributing to building the ASEAN community and implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Mekong countries highly appreciated India's financial support for implementing 105 poverty reduction projects in remote areas, providing clean water and building cultural houses in rural areas under the Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) Program, of which 46 projects have been and are being implemented in Vietnam.
The Ministers shared the view that the region is facing many challenges in the post-Covid-19 period, but there are also many opportunities that MGC countries need to seize. Discussing the direction of MGC cooperation in the next phase, the Ministers agreed to focus on facilitating trade and investment, enhancing connectivity, education, sustainable management of transboundary water resources, science and technology, agriculture , health, culture and tourism.
Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith speaks at the Conference. Photo: BNG
The Conference highly appreciated and unanimously approved India's initiative to establish a MGC Sectoral Cooperation Coordination Mechanism and establish an MGC Business Council to encourage business participation and contributions, bringing MGC cooperation into reality, and bringing benefits to people and businesses. Accordingly, the Ministers agreed to extend the MGC Action Plan for the period 2019 - 2022 until the end of 2024.
Speaking at the conference, Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed Vietnam's respect and effective contribution to MGC cooperation. The Minister emphasized that in the context of a rapidly changing world, MGC needs to prioritize and can help member countries improve their competitiveness and develop sustainably.
Minister Bui Thanh Son proposed three main groups of measures. First, promoting economic linkages between the Mekong countries and India for sustainable recovery and growth; finding new measures to facilitate cross-border trade, promote investment opportunities, support business connections, enhance transport connectivity, and support micro, small and medium enterprises.
Second, ensuring a green and sustainable future for future generations through cooperation in responding to food-water-energy security challenges, transferring technology and investing in clean and renewable energy, and mobilizing resources to support the energy transition.
Third, promoting people-to-people exchanges contributes to strengthening friendship and partnership among MGC members. The Minister proposed promoting cooperation in education and vocational training to help meet the great demand for high-quality human resources, expanding tourism cooperation to help restore the economy, especially culinary tourism and wedding tourism, and suggested that India continue to support Mekong countries in preserving UNESCO cultural heritages. The Minister also proposed joint activities of the MGC to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the MGC in 2025.
The Minister's speech was highly appreciated, accepted and reflected in the Conference documents by member countries.
The meeting concluded successfully with the adoption of a Joint Statement and two annexes on coordinating MGC cooperation by sector and establishing the MGC Business Council. The Ministers agreed to hold the 13th MGC Foreign Ministers' Meeting in 2024.
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