The meeting was attended by senior officials from six member countries including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, China, Thailand, Myanmar and representatives from international financial organizations. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Transport Tran Doan Tho.

The meeting aimed to review the initial implementation of annexes and protocols signed under the framework of the GMS agreement, work out action plans for 2007-2010 and continue to sign three annexes and one protocol of the agreement.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Tho emphasized that Vietnam always attaches importance to transport cooperation among countries in the GMS. The country has been actively building and upgrading transport infrastructure, especially routes under the GMS cooperation framework. Vietnam and Laos began implementing the GMS agreement at the Lao Bao-Dansavanh bordergate in June 2005. The country and Cambodia later signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the implementation of GMS agreement at the Moc Bai-Ba Vet bordergate in April 2006. At this meeting, Vietnam and China signed a MoU on the implementation of the GMS agreement at the Lao Cai-Heikou bordergate. Mr Tho said the MoU will be implemented into three stages in an effort to solve issues related to entry formalities under the ”one-stop shop” mechanism.
The transport of goods and people across the border will be more convenient, less expensive and time-consuming. And this will help facilitate the development of trade, investment and tourism in the region.

At the meeting, member countries praised Vietnam’s efforts in implementing the GMS agreement. The government has approved 16/16 annexes and protocols under the framework of the GMS agreement so far and it is drafting guidelines on the implementation of the agreement.