Key strategies for enhanced CLV economic connectivity

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and Laos counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith shaking their hands for the CLV co-operation

During the summit, the participants focused on reviewing the implementation of the master plan for socioeconomic development through 2020 and decisions made by the three countries’ leaders, and discussing the area’s orientations in the coming time.

Regarding cooperation, the participants acknowledged progress in various fields of institutional connectivity and people-to-people connectivity, especially in infrastructure connectivity. It focuses on upgrading, modernising and ensuring convenient and smooth connectivity of all kinds of transportation, information and telecommunications, energy, trade, agriculture, and tourism related infrastructure among the three countries of CLV.

Of which, the three prime ministers emphasised the need to complete the studies for formulation of a common master plan for CLV highway network to ensure uniformity across the three countries and between the three countries and the ASEAN region, as well as research for implementing some transport connectivity projects for connecting the three countries.

They are:

The highway connecting Laos and Vietnam which starts from Vientiane, goes through Pak San (Laos) to Thanh Thuy border gate (Nghe An province, Vietnam), connects to North-South highway (Vietnam).

The highway connecting Cambodia to the South of Vietnam from Phnom Penh (Cambodia) to connect to Cai Mep – Thi Vai (Vietnam).

The highway connecting Laos and Cambodia which starts from Vientiane, goes through National Road No.13 to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) belonging to Asian Highway No.11 of ASEAN.

The highway connecting Trat province of Thailand through Cambodia coastal corridor (Southern Corridor) to Xa Xia border gate, Ha Tien (Vietnam).

The three countries of CLV also co-ordinate to conduct studies for developing connection railway under the framework of Singapore-Kunming Rail Link Project (SKRL), including Ho Chi Minh City – Loc Ninh (Vietnam) – Phnom Penh (Cambodia) railway, and Vientiane (Laos) – Vung Ang (Vietnam) railway.

Regarding energy infrastructure, they will invest in the construction of power transmission lines connecting the three countries in line with the construction progress of power projects in order to ensure supply for production and consumption in the three countries.

Additionally, they underlined the importance of CLV cooperation in maintaining peace and stability in the region, supporting socioeconomic development processes in each countries, and helping their border provinces to narrow development gap.

For future cooperation orientations, the three leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen comprehensive cooperation between the three countries as an indispensable part of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

The three prime ministers also approved a master plan for CLV connectivity until 2030, which covers major orientations for boosting infrastructure, institutional, economic and people-to-people exchange connectivity.

The three countries also asked their Joint Coordination Committee to deploy activities in order to enhance security and diplomacy cooperation and develop tourism development plan.