JOINT DECLARATION
ON STRENGTHENING COOPERATION IN
THE CAMBODIA - LAOS - VIETNAM DEVELOPMENT TRIANGLE AREA
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Vientiane,12thMarch 2013
WE, Heads of the Governments of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, met in Vientiane, Lao PDR for the 7thSummit of the Cambodia – Laos – Viet Nam (CLV) Development Triangle Area, chaired by the Prime Minister of Viet Nam;
NOTING WITH SATISFACTION the intensification of good neighbourliness, solidarity, traditional friendship, fraternal bonds, and comprehensive and long-lasting cooperation among the three countries, as well as the significant progress achieved since the 6thSummit;
NOTING WITH SATISFACTION that socio-economic development efforts in localities within the CLV Development Triangle Area have achieved encouraging results in the face of on-going regional and global economic difficulties;
REAFFIRMING our determination to further strengthen the Cambodia – Laos – Viet Nam comprehensive cooperation on the basis of independence, self-reliance, equal and mutually-beneficial cooperation for the vigorous development of each country and the prosperity of the CLV Development Triangle Area;
EMPHASIZING the strategic location and vast potential of the Development Triangle Area in each country’s overall socio-economic, defence-security and environmental policies;
REAFFIRMING our commitments to building a CLV Development Triangle Area of harmony and prosperity through continuing the expansion and enhancement of the efficiency and quality of cooperation and promotion of socio-economic development of localities in the CLV Development Triangle Area;
RECOGNIZING PROFOUNDLY the difficulties and challenges facing the three countries, particularly as regards the CLV Development Triangle Area; the importance of close coordination among three Governments and collective actions to foster breakthroughs in the development of the CLV Development Triangle Area;
HEREBY DECLARE THAT:
1.We highly appreciate the efforts of the CLV Joint Coordination Committee to implement the revised Master Plan for socio-economic development of the CLV Development Triangle Area by 2020, and take note of the results achieved over the past two years. We task the CLV Joint Coordination Committee to further study and recommend concrete measures for more effective implementation of the Master Plan as revised in 2010.
2.We agree to promote the implementation of preferential and special policies to create a favourable environment for investment and business in the CLV Development Triangle Area, and to enhance the connectivity among localities in the region. We task the Joint Coordination Committee Ministers to monitor, promote and report on the results of the implementation of the amended Memorandum of Understanding on CLV Development Triangle Area Special Preferential Policy signed in 2010. We also task them to review the existing bilateral and multilateral agreements among the three countries and to develop an Agreement on trade promotion and facilitation in the CLV Development Triangle Area to be submitted for signing at the 8thCLV Development Triangle Area Summit to be held in Lao PDR.
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We agree to work closely with each other in accelerating ASEAN’s regional integration efforts, including the effective and timely implementation of the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.
4.We agree to accelerate the implementation of bilateral and multilateral agreements to create favourable conditions for the movement of people and goods, particularly the Cross-border Transport Agreement (CBTA) within the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) cooperation framework, single-stop/single-window customs inspection at international border checkpoints and bilateral trade, investment and transport agreements. Wewelcome the signing of the MOU on Trilateral Road Transport between and among the Governments of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao PDR and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in on 17 January 2013 in Champasak, Lao PDR. We task the Ministers of Transport of the three countries to work out the procedures for effective implementation of this MOU.
5.We agree to designate the development of the rubber industry as a priority of economic cooperation among the three countries in the CLV Development Triangle Area and task the Joint Coordination Committee to undertake a detailed study and develop a concrete development plan to be submitted to the CLV Prime Ministers for consideration at the 8thCLV Summit.
6.We attach special importance to the development of high-quality human resources and skilled labour to underpin the regional economic development and request competent agencies and vocational schools to focus on training skilled labour forces for investment projects within the CLV Development Triangle Area. We also agree that each country shall designate a vocational training school to be focal point for training activities in CLV Development Triangle Area.
7.We call on development partners to support actively and cooperate closely with the CLV Governments in socio-economic development efforts in the Development Triangle Areaas agreed in the Master Plan.We also call on domestic and foreign enterprises to step up investment and business activities in the CLV Development Triangle Area. We highly appreciate the support extended by Japan to the CLV Development Triangle Area over the past years and wish to continue working with Japan in this regard both bilaterally and multilaterally within, inter alia, the ASEAN-Japan,CLV-Japan, andMekong-Japancooperation frameworks as agreed upon in the Tokyo Strategy 2012.
8.We task the Joint Coordination Committee and relevant agencies to carry out proactively and effectively trade and investment promotion activities aimed to: (i) promote the potentials of the CLV Development Triangle Area and the implementation of preferential policies for the region adopted by the three Governments; (ii) mobilise ODA and technical assistance from development partners for prioritized projects, organise a Conference between CLV and development partners; and (iii) attract FDI to the region. We instruct relevant authorities to proactively organize public-private dialogues to address difficulties faced by enterprises and respond to their legitimate requests when doing business in the Development Triangle Area.
9.We underline the importance of ensuring security, safety and stable environment for investors and residents in the CLV Development Triangle Area. We also stress the importance of implementing “hot line” at local authority level in the CLV Development Triangle Area. The three countries should continue to coordinate, exchange information regarding security and external relation issues of Development Triangle Area provinces in a timely manner. We agree to strengthen cooperation in the region for fighting against drug and human trafficking, cross-border crimes and on cross-border emergency relief, natural disaster and pandemic preparedness and addressing the issues of post-war unexploded ordinance. We urge relevant authorities to organize exchange learning programs to allow officials of CLV to benefit from each other’s experiences in dealing with the above issues.
10.We reaffirm our strong commitment to environmental protection and to the sustainable management and use of natural resources for the development in each country and the entire Development Triangle Area. We task relevant authorities to strengthen the implementation of existing agreements/MOUs on environmental protection; to develop joint programs and action plans to preserve the biodiversity, natural parks and protected areas in the CLV Development Triangle Area. We encourage active and timely efforts from localities and relevant agencies to incorporate other issues related to the environment and sustainable development into the cooperation agenda of the three countries.
11.We agree to convene the 8thSummit of the CLV Development Triangle Area in the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2014.
Done in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic on 12thMarch 2013 in three copies in English language.
For the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia
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For the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
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For the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
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Samdech Akka Moha
Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen
Prime Minister
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Thongsing Thammavong
Prime Minister
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Nguyen Tan Dung
Prime Minister
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Ministry of Planning and Investment