China has taken an active role in the economic development of
the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) in the past decade, in a bid to
push forward the full-spectrum of cooperation among member
countries, Shen Guofang, Assistant to the Chinese Foreign Minister,
said at a recent press
conference.
Leaders from China, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam
will meet in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan
Province for the second summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion
on Economic Cooperation Program (GMS Program), to be held from July
4 to 5.
Since the GMS was established in 1992, China has signed the
"Agreement for Facilitation of Cross-Border Transport of Goods and
People," sponsored the sea route development project on the Upper
Mekong River, and accelerated construction of the Kunming-Bangkok
highway.
China also signed the agreement on the regional trade of power
among GMS countries, upgraded online telecommunications
capabilities and helped to bridge the digital gap among the
countries.
Cooperation among the countries has also extended to such fields as
agriculture, human resources, health, and telecommunication.
(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2005)