NAY PYI TAW, 20 Dec - The 4th GMS Summit Retreat was held at Summit Room of MICC here at 10:30 am today, attended by President of the Republic of the Union Myanmar U Thein Sein, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, Chinese State Councilor Mr Dai Bingguo, Laotian Prime Minister Mr Thongsing Thammavong, Thai Prime Minister Ms Yingluck Shinawatra, Vietnamese Prime Minister Mr Nguyen Tan Dung and ADB President Mr Haruhiko Kuroda.

President U Thein Sein delivered an address as a chairperson of the session. The ADB president gave account of progress over past years and GMS new strategic framework to the GMS leaders.

The GMS leaders held a discussion on the main topic of the session "pledges and supports of each country according to time and situation of the country for implementation of Mekong Subregion new Strategic Framework".

In his discussion, the President said that in relation to promotion of tapping GMS resources, resource availability is a cornerstone for implementation of projects. For GMS resource availability, it is scheduled to invite partners to participate in task force meetings, high-ranking officials meetings and ministerial meetings. In addition, private sector and donors are also to be arranged to have a touch with development of GMS scheme. In categorizing the new projects in order of priorities and sustainability of progress in past two decades for more mature third decade, the projects are needed to be agreeable to own national plans, other sub-region plans and regional plans.

As GMS corridor development becomes strong time by time, it is required to pay attention to development of previous corridors in addition to East-West Corridor, South-North Corridor and Southern Economic Corridor. The relations between central governments and between state governments are to be encouraged for development of border regions. In land transport sector, betterment of railroad among GMS countries will serve up Singapore-Kunming railway project being implemented by ASEAN countries and China.

Moreover, it is necessary to meet objectives and goals of GMS scheme in order to realize 2012-2022 Strategic Framework: energy and electricity market integration, communication and ICT access, tourism industry sustainability, agriculture sector development that could tackle food challenge, environmental conservation and human resource development. In coming decade, priorities are to be given to remaining sectors, the President advised. The GMS leaders also took part in the discussion.

The President welcomed the discussion related to promotion of "participation of all stakeholders, not only from the national level but also from the sub-national levels and private sector to effectively implement the new Strategic Framework and the role the government in attracting investment from private sector for development of economic corridors", underscoring the need to realize sustainable development.

The new GMS Strategic Framework which will come into force in 2012 suggests private sector is a drive in public-private partnerships and GMS development programme, he said. The President attached great importance on investments from private sector in critical infrastructure development of GMS programme. He stressed the need to hold regular publicprivate consultations to invite the private sector to invest in public sector. He highlighted the need of transparency in government's undertakings.
GMS leaders participated in discussion, sharing their own views.

At today's summit, leaders from six GMS countries discussed matters related to current and future objectives, aims and challenges of Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation (GMS) Programme.

The 4th GMS Summit Joint Declaration was announced to be approved as Nay Pyi Taw Declaration.

MNA