SAC Chair attends 11th CLMV Summit, highlights Myanmar's leadership in agriculture, industry, and energy

The Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) attended the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit, and Myanmar is taking the lead in cooperation in the agricultural, industrial and energy sectors, sources said.

The 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit was held on the afternoon of November 7 at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Kunming, China. The SAC Chairman, Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended and delivered a speech.

The meeting was attended by Prime Ministers of the member countries, including Prime Minister of Cambodia H.E. Mr. Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Laos H.E. Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Vietnam H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chich, ASEAN Secretary-General H.E. Dr. KAO KIM HOURN, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and high-ranking officials and officials from member countries.

First, the Chairman of the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit, SAC Chairman, welcomed the Prime Ministers and members of the member countries who had arrived to attend the Summit.

Then, in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to chair the Summit as the rotating Chairman for the past four years. He also thanked the delegations of the CLMV member countries who attended this Summit from various meeting schedules. He also thanked the People’s Republic of China for providing the necessary support to hold this Summit in Kunming, China.

The SAC Chairman also commended the efforts of the senior officials of the CLMV and the working groups established under the CLMV Cooperation, which worked hard to finalize the Joint Declaration (Draft) of the 11th CLMV Summit. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property of the people in the CLMV member countries due to the floods and landslides caused by Typhoon Yagi. He noted that 2024 also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the CLMV Cooperation. Along the way, we have achieved many remarkable achievements in the eight main areas of our CLMV Cooperation. He also said that the CLMV Development Framework, which aims to make CLMV countries sustainable and upper-middle-income countries by 2030, was adopted.

He said that the friendship, unity and mutual understanding among CLMV member countries have made their cooperation fruitful. He said that in the current global political turmoil, international conflicts, economic downturns, food and energy shortages, it is imperative for them to be resilient. He said that today’s meeting is an opportunity to review the progress of CLMV cooperation and discuss how to more effectively implement the CLMV Framework under the theme “From Friendly Relations and Unity to Resilience and Prosperity”.

Afterwards, the Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and the ASEAN Secretary-General exchanged views on the future direction of CLMV cooperation and reviewed the progress under the theme “From Friendly Relations and Unity to Resilience and Prosperity”.

Then, the Chairman of the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Cooperation (CLMV) Summit expressed his great honor to serve as the rotating chairman of the 11th CLMV Summit held in Kunming, China. He said we recall the CLMV cooperation mechanism that was conceived at the first ACMAC Summit held in Bagan, Myanmar in 2003. Since then, member states have been working together to promote regional peace, security and stability. We have worked together to create a prosperous and inclusive community. Myanmar is a leading country in agricultural, industrial and energy cooperation. Continuing to improve the infrastructure and technological connectivity of CLMV member countries is a key issue for regional development. We have approved the “CLMV Development Framework” and the CLMV Development Framework Implementation Plan for regional economic integration under CLMV cooperation.

We believe that the implementation plan can serve as a guide to promote trade and investment that will support the achievement of the CLMV 2030 Vision and enhance development cooperation among member countries in the post-COVID-19 era. Therefore, I would like to urge all of the attendees to effectively implement the Framework and Implementation Plan. The agricultural sector of the CLMV countries plays a crucial role in regional integration and economic development, the SAC Chairman said.

Therefore, the CLMV countries need to continuously study new technologies related to agriculture and create a sustainable environment for producing high-quality products. The industrial sector of the CLMV countries has been significantly affected by the pandemic. In order to redevelop this sector, we need to build and upgrade industrial infrastructure and industrial facilities through economic corridors, connections between economic corridors and special economic zones, the SAC Chairman said.

In addition, it is necessary to encourage the holding of industrial trade fairs and the development of human resources for labour productivity in the CLMV countries. Investment in the clean and renewable energy sector is becoming more and more important every day. In addition, the use of electric vehicles needs to be considered as an alternative in implementing the green development strategy, the SAC Chairman said.

Regarding disasters, the CLMV countries are the most vulnerable and affected countries in the region, and mitigating the effects of climate change is a key challenge for our region. Therefore, we must collectively address the challenges of natural and man-made disasters, and strengthen disaster management mechanisms and effective programs and management for climate change mitigation, regional vulnerability reduction and early warning, the SAC Chairman said.

Furthermore, in member countries, nature-based tourism greatly contributes to the economic development of local people, and therefore, we should support local businesses and MSMEs related to tourism that can preserve the environment and cultural practices. We emphasize the successful holding of the sixth CLMV Tourism Ministers' Meeting in 2022 and the planning for the seventh CLMV Tourism Ministers' Meeting in 2024. The Chairman of the SAC also expressed his belief that the "CLMV Tourism Cooperation Action Plan (2023-2025)" will be very useful in implementing the tourism development plan for the CLMV countries.

The implementation of human resource development programs in the CLMV countries is of the utmost importance, so we should continue to implement the scholarship and experience exchange programs in various fields under the CLMV framework. He expressed his gratitude for Vietnam's provision of scholarships to Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. He also encouraged Vietnam and other interested member countries to explore and plan cooperation programs.

He considered that obtaining funding is important for the success and progress of every cooperation mechanism, including the CLMV Cooperation Mechanism. The Chairman of the SAC expressed his gratitude to the ASEAN Secretariat for its assistance and support through the IAI work programmes, and also appreciated the assistance and support of development partners in supporting the CLMV projects, he said.

Myanmar will continue to work with countries in the region and internationally to make our region a resilient and prosperous community based on friendship and solidarity, and reaffirmed that Myanmar will work closely with CLMV member countries to achieve our common goal of sustainable and inclusive development, the Chairman of the SAC said.

The Prime Ministers of the member countries attending the meeting then discussed and adopted the communiqués of the CLMV Summit.

Then, the Chairman of the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit delivered a closing speech at the meeting, saying that the CLMV Summit is held once every two years. During Myanmar’s rotating chairmanship, the Summit has been held regularly and all member states have worked closely together to ensure that the Summit is held regularly and that the fruitful results of our cooperation are achieved. Now, we are very happy to hold the Summit and discuss issues of common interest not only to our CLMV countries but also to other countries.

The Chairman of the SAC expressed his deep gratitude for the active cooperation, understanding and invaluable support of the CLMV during the Chairmanship of Myanmar. He also expressed his belief that we have been able to overcome the challenges that have arisen over the years with unity, resilience and determination. He also expressed his belief that the effective implementation of relevant projects under the CLMV cooperation framework will further contribute to the prosperity and growth of the people in the region. He said that we must continue to accelerate the momentum of the CLMV cooperation mechanism with stronger commitments.

Then, the Chairman of the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit, the Chairman of the SAC, handed over the rotating chairmanship to the Prime Minister of Vietnam, and the Vietnamese Prime Minister accepted the rotating chairmanship and discussed the matter before adjourning the meeting.