8/4/2019 17th GMS MC PRC Head of Delegation Statement

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Statement by Vice Minister ZHANG Shaochun

at the 17th

GMS Ministerial Meeting

(Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 4 August 2011)

H.E. Senior Minister Cham Prasidh,

H.E. Vice-President Bindu N. Lohani,

Heads of Delegations,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to attend the 17th Greater Mekong Sub-regional (GMS)

Ministerial Meeting in the beautiful city of Phnom Penh. First of all, on behalf of

the Chinese delegation, I’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the

government of Cambodia and the Asian Development Bank for the warmhospitality and thoughtful arrangements.

At present, as the world economy continues to recover, the foundation of the

recovery is not yet firm and the process is still unbalanced. The world economy

is faced with many newly emerged uncertainties and risks, including

slow-down of growth in major economies, further deterioration of sovereign

debt crisis in Europe, and increasing inflationary pressure in emerging

economies. Asian economy, though maintains fairly high growth rate, still faces

many immediate and long-term challenges. While accommodating themselves

to the uncertainties of external economic environment, Asian economies have

to focus more on retuning their economic structures and growth modalities. In

such a context, it is important for the GMS countries to jointly fend off external

risks and realize economic development through strengthening mutually

beneficial and win-win cooperation within the Sub-region.

In the past two decades, the GMS cooperation is constantly making headways

and harvests, contributing greatly to poverty reduction and economic and

social development in the Sub-region. Following the 16th Ministerial Meeting in

Hanoi, many new progresses have been attained by the GMS membersthrough improving infrastructure, advancing Transport and Trade Facilitation

(TTF) and reinforcing cooperation in various areas. At this special timing when

the GMS cooperation is entering in a new decade, it is encouraging to see the

draft GMS Strategic Framework for the next ten year (2012-2022) has been

formulated. The new GMS Strategic Framework as guidance for future GMS

cooperation, summarizes the past achievements, analyzes current

opportunities and challenges faced by members and sets up basic principles,

strategic objectives and eight priorities for future GMS cooperation. We feel

confident about the next ten-year of GMS cooperation. Taking this chance, I

would like to propose the following on our future cooperation:

8/4/2019 17th GMS MC PRC Head of Delegation Statement

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8/4/2019 17th GMS MC PRC Head of Delegation Statement

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As a GMS member, China has been exploring various ways to actively support

the sub-regional cooperation. In 2005, Chinese government donated

USD$20million to set up the PRC Fund for Poverty Reduction and Regional

Cooperation in ADB. In six years, the Fund has provided grants to 47 projects

in 45 countries, among which about USD$8.67 million was used in GMScountries. In May this year at the 44th Annual Meeting of ADB in Hanoi,

Vietnam, Chinese government announced to replenish the Fund by another

USD$20 million. China is willing to contribute more to GMS cooperation within

its capacity via the Fund and other channels. Meanwhile, China will stick to the

policy of building friendship and partnership with neighboring countries,

strengthen coordination with all members and join the concerted efforts to

realize development and prosperity in the Sub-region.

Thank you all!