Wednesday, February 3, 2010

ASEAN project to narrow development gaps between members

03/02/2010

A conference on narrowing development gaps between ASEAN member countries opened in Vientiane on February 1.

Attending the event were various Lao policy makers, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan, and representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

A pilot project will be carried out in Laos co-sponsored by the Lao Government, the ASEAN Secretariat and JICA.

Lao Planning and Investment Minister Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune said the project will aim to ensure sustainable development while protecting the environment and conserving natural resources.

Secretary General Pitsuwan said that new ASEAN members including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam may share the results of the project.

He observed that is difficult to build an ASEAN community if there are great development gaps between members.

He stressed the need for assistance from ASEAN dialogue partners like Japan, China, Russia and Australia.

Laos is the country with the least pollution in the region and an abundance of natural resources. The country attracted substantial foreign investment in 2009 valued at US$1.5 billion, mainly for exploitation of natural resources.

VNA/VOVNews

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