GMS countries to boost co-op in transportation

VIENTIANE, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of six Asian nations sharing the Mekong River will be meeting in the capital of Laos next Monday to discuss closer cooperation in tapping economic potentials in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).

The GMS summit, the third of its kind since 2002, is set to be held on March 31 under the theme of "Enhancing Competitiveness through Greater Connectivity."

Leaders at the summit will touch upon issues in nine key fields, namely, communication, energy, telecommunications, environmental protection, agriculture, human resource development, tourism and facilitation of trade and investment. Among these, boosting transportation is an important issue expected to be discussed.

"Roads bring everything," said Krit Krahchitti, head of Thailand's working group on GMS economic cooperation, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

One urgent problem to be solved at the summit, he said, is the materialization of "single-stop inspection" for border-point customs check, which will lessen the time and trouble when vehicles cross the borders.

Other obstacles include different driving and traffic regulations. Easier flow of human resources and goods may also bring cross-border crimes such as human trafficking.

Laws and regulations need to be put in place or adjusted, and bilateral agreements to protect investors' interest and convenience to achieve long-term benefits in many aspects, not only for transportation, said Krit.

Myanmar also wants to strengthen cooperation with GMS member countries, especially in terms of transportation.

Covered by the Mekong project in the transport sector, Myanmar has built some major roads in its border areas such as the Lashio-Muse road, Lashio-Hsipaw-Loilem-Kengtung road, and Tachilek-Kengtung-Mongla road.

Aimed at developing the international passenger and cargo transportation, trade and tourism on the Lancang-Mekong River, Myanmar joined three other countries located in the upper reaches of the Mekong River -- China, Laos and Thailand, in signing a commercial navigation agreement in April 2000 in Myanmar's Tachilek.