Ministers kick off ACMECS meeting in Laos

Vientiane -- Foreign ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam on Tuesday kicked off a meeting for the Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) in Laos to discuss plans to forge cooperation to bridge development gaps among them.

The mistrial meeting was held prior to the 5th summit of ACMECS leaders due on Wednesday.

They considered a new action plan for 2013-2015 to implement a number of development projects to facilitate trade, investment and tourism across border, notably along the East-West, North-South and Southern Economic corridors.

Thai delegation led by Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul pushed ahead rice trade cooperation in order to avoid fierce competition among neighboring countries which are major rice production base in Southeast Asia.

The Nation