CLMVT Forum 2016 opened in Bangkok

BANGKOK, June 16 (TNA) - The CLMVT Forum 2016, in which the public and private sectors of five member countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand, jointly host for the first time and take part, has been inaugurated in Bangkok under the theme "Towards a Shared Prosperity". On Thursday morning before his departure for a three-day official visit to India, Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, who is also Chief of the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), officially opened the regional forum, organised at the Dusit Thani Hotel during June 16-18, aimed at building up strong cooperation on further developing trade, investment and tourism among the five GMS member countries, all of which are also member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Delivering a speech on "Prosper Together" at the opening session of the CLMVT Forum 2016, the Thai prime minister told public and private delegates from the five GMS member countries that the three-day regional meeting should be a constructive platform for building mutual public benefits in the subregion. Prime Minister General Prayut said Thailand is pleased to offer cooperation and every party must forget previous conflicts and find a common way for joint cooperation. "This Suvarnabhumi region is a strong land although countries in the region used to face conflicts and political changes, they could prosper with joint cooperation", the Thai premier pointed out. The Thai prime minister noted even though there is dispartity between each member state, assistance could be provided to each other to reduce the economic gap and unnecessary competition by considering their people at the centre. The Thai leader acknowledged that the private sector is a key force to drive forward the regional economy and concerned parties should, thus, try to create an "ASEAN Brand", especially on a food source of the world and a transportation connectivity that Thailand is also implementing. A total of 11 government and private agencies of CLMVT co-sponsor the three-day forum this week. (TNA)