The 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit commenced at Haigeng Convention Centre in Kunming, People’s Republic of China, on 7 November. Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing together with Chinese Premier H.E. Mr. Li Qiang, Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Hun Manet of Kingdom of Cambodia, Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Sonexay Siphandone of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Prime Minister of Thailand H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Vietnam H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chich, President of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Mr. Masatsugu Asakawa, and ministers, deputy ministers and high-level officials, and officials of GMS countries.
The 8th GMS summit was held under two sessions, during which the Chinese Premier made an opening speech for the Leaders’ Summit, and respective leaders discussed proper work plans and preparedness for regional integration under the topic of “Towards Development through Innovation”.
During the summit, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister discussed as follows:
- Measures to create a promising subregion through innovation will be discussed during the Leaders’ Summit. Technology and innovation play a vital role in the economic growth and socioeconomic development of a nation.
- The countries or regions that support innovations in the global economy can improve social quality by promoting their economic status, creating job opportunities, and accelerating the competitiveness.
- Concerning the participation of regional business people, the Senior General said, “At the same time, innovations should be tailored to the natural environment and geographical features of a country, and intellectuals, experts, startups and entrepreneurs in addition to governments, development partners, private and local governments should work together.”
- Access to resourses is also crucial, and the Research and Development (R&D) is an essential resource for innovation and the assistance of government, private, local and foreign investments and development partners also play a crucial role in bringing about innovation.
- A country needs suitable action programs such as the task force as the administrative mechanism and forums in realizing innovation projects. Myanmar has set up the National Science, Technology and Innovation Council and is engaging in innovative undertakings.
- Moreover, all the sectors of GMS programmes should be connected with innovative strategies. The GMS countries are urged to accelerate the agricultural economy and food security through innovation as they are formed of agriculture-based countries.
- Agriculture, tourism, trade and investment should be prioritized according to the strategy that meets the regional requirements.
- Especially, in the health sector, treatment and modern treatment should be discovered through public health services, health and human resources connections and medical universities level connections, and also through technology transfer centres and knowledge sharing centres.
- The intellectual property laws and the laws for each sector were enacted in each country. It is believed that all GMS countries can realize progress by promoting connections and cooperation in the innovation sector on a country-by-country basis or via foreign investments.
After that, the plenary session under the theme of “Towards a Better Community through Innovation-driven Development”, was followed. It was attended by leaders of six member countries, the ADB president, ministers, deputy ministers and high-ranking officials of GMS countries, representatives of development partner associations, representatives of private sector, and representatives of regional governments of the member countries, totalling about 200.
During the session, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister made remarks as follows:
- Many countries, including Myanmar, faced flooding and landslides in September due to Typhoon Yagi.
- The GMS programme, which has been running for over three decades since 1992, has achieved significant achievements.
- Regarding the approval of the Concept Paper, the Senior General said, “The special focus is placed on the innovation sector internationally, and the Innovation Strategy that will be approved at the summit held under “Towards a Better Community through Innovation-driven Development”, is suitable for GMS.
- Technology and innovation are the main driving forces for the promotion of manufacturing, technology enhancement, new industries and job creation in regional countries.
- The Innovative Strategy 2030 of GMS intends to accelerate the cooperation in implementing the GMS Strategic Framework 2030, and the Concept Paper was approved at the 26th GMS Ministerial Conference held in December 2023 in Myanmar.
- Today, the world faces interconnected challenges such as climate change, food security, natural disasters, inflation, global health crises, rising energy prices, migrant worker issues, and an unbalanced economy.
- Addressing these challenges requires coordination and a multi-faceted approach, as they cannot be resolved by any one country or organization alone. By pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and adjusting policies as needed, we can enhance the resilience and long-term sustainability of the GMS.
- As GMS countries share similar geographical conditions, interconnected waterways, ecosystems, and climates: addressing these challenges requires collaboration under the 3 Cs of the GMS program: Connectivity, Competitiveness, and Community.
- Public healthcare of a nation plays a vital role in building a modern and developed nation.
- It should estimate the increasing population and changing socioeconomic and environmental conditions for the future and should employ the existing resources. In such doing, the healthcare system will be qualified.
- The national-level activities will be conducted by connecting with the health strategies of GMS and regional governments.
- Regarding the regional food security, the global population is 8.3 billion now and will reach 8.6 billion in 2030 and 8.9 billion in 2035.
- Food production, trade and distribution cannot be done just in the territory of a country. As such, regional cooperation plays a crucial role in food security.
- So, all should share knowledge regarding innovative plans in the agricultural sector, create regional food markets and promote investments, including technology transfers.
- The special efforts of the government give emphasis to ensure the food security of people using modern technologies in agricultural and livestock breeding products.
- Myanmar ranked eighth in the most rice-exporting countries and second in bean exports in 2023. Therefore, efforts are ongoing to ensure domestic food security while also increasing exports.
- Regarding the role of economic corridors and the signature of GMS, the economic corridor’s development plays a pivotal role in accelerating the economic growth, regional integration and all-inclusive development of a nation.
- The promotion of communication between the producers and markets can develop trade along the economic corridor and create new markets in transnational trade. Therefore, all should work together to promote the regional economy using these economic corridors.
- Myanmar practices a non-aligned, independent, and active foreign policy that is in line with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
- Moreover, the government drafted a five-point roadmap and nine objectives in the political, economic and social sectors for the interests of the country and national people.
- Despite the rapidly changing situation, Myanmar would keep working together with other countries to implement the international and multilateral agreements, as well as other international commitments.
- Balance and inclusion are fundamental principles for international cooperation. Therefore, the cooperation of development partners, private institutions and regional governments, in addition to the collaboration of member countries and support of the GMS Secretariat, is needed to implement the plans for the socioeconomic development in GMS countries.
- The suggestions of leaders of the summit can be supportive actions to the emergence of a resilient in the future and sustainable GMS community.
After that, the Chinese Finance Minister reported the progress after the Seventh GMS Summit to the leaders, and the official from the Yunnan Province government presented the report of the GMS Economic Corridors Forum 2024 and the official from the GMS Secretary Office about the outcome of the development partner meeting and declared the joint statement and GMS Innovative Strategy 2030.
Also present at the summit along with the Senior General were the SAC Joint-Secretary and SAC members, Union ministers, region chief ministers, deputy ministers, and officials from military and civilian sectors.
The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Programme Summit, which has been running for over three decades since 1992, has secured significant achievements. According to the GMS programme, the summit is held once every three years starting in 2002, marking the 10th anniversary of the GMS, in six member countries in accord with the alphabet. Myanmar also hosted the Fourth GMS Summit on 19 and 20 December 2011 in Nay Pyi Taw. At the summits, commitments are made to meet expectations for the subregion’s future development, with key joint statements issued by the leaders of the participating countries. It was reported that the 8th GMS Summit, held today, approved innovative policies and the summit's joint declaration.
Source: The GNLM (8-11-2024)
- The countries or regions that support innovations in the global economy can improve social quality by promoting their economic status, creating job opportunities, and accelerating the competitiveness.
- At the same time, innovations should be tailored to the natural environment and geographical features of a country, and intellectuals, experts, startups and entrepreneurs in addition to governments, development partners, private and local governments should work together.
- All the sectors of GMS programmes should be connected with innovative strategies. The GMS countries are urged to accelerate the agricultural economy and food security through innovation as they are formed of agriculture-based countries.
- It is believed that all GMS countries can realize progress by promoting connections and cooperation in the innovation sector on a country-by-country basis or via foreign investments.
- The Innovative Strategy 2030 of GMS intends to accelerate the cooperation in implementing the GMS Strategic Framework 2030, and the Concept Paper was approved at the 26th GMS Ministerial Conference held in December 2023 in Myanmar.
- Today, the world faces interconnected challenges such as climate change, food security, natural disasters, inflation, global health crises, rising energy prices, migrant worker issues, and an unbalanced economy.
- Addressing these challenges requires coordination and a multi-faceted approach, as they cannot be resolved by any one country or organization alone. By pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and adjusting policies as needed, we can enhance the resilience and long-term sustainability of the GMS.
- Public healthcare of a nation plays a vital role in building a modern and developed nation. It should estimate the increasing population and changing socioeconomic and environmental conditions for the future and should employ the existing resources. In such doing, the healthcare system will be qualified.
- Regarding the regional food security, the global population is 8.3 billion now and will reach 8.6 billion in 2030 and 8.9 billion in 2035. Food production, trade and distribution cannot be done just in the territory of a country. As such, regional cooperation plays a crucial role in food security.
- Regarding the role of economic corridors and the signature of GMS, the economic corridor’s development plays a pivotal role in accelerating the economic growth, regional integration and all-inclusive development of a nation. The promotion of communication between the producers and markets can develop trade along the economic corridor and create new markets in transnational trade. Therefore, all should work together to promote the regional economy using these economic corridors.
- The official from the Yunnan Province government presented the report of the GMS Economic Corridors Forum 2024 and the official from the GMS Secretary Office about the outcome of the development partner meeting and declared the joint statement and GMS Innovative Strategy 2030.