Present at the conference were Vice President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Lawrence Greenwood, Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc, and ministers from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Mr Phuc praised effective co-operation in transport, energy technology, agriculture, tourism, investment, and trade in the region in recent years and pointed out difficulties and challenges, such as inadequate infrastructure and differing laws and institutions.

Participants discussed sharing benefits among member countries, opportunities for boosting economic growth, poverty rates and trade and transport agreements.