Ministers of the six countries bordering the Mekong River - Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam - met in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh yesterday to strengthen cooperation in the implementation of 11 flagship initiatives over the next 10 years.

The conference encouraged the development partners and the private sectors to take part in and support the Greater Mekong Subregion Programme's initiatives to improve connections between different areas in the subregion.

Jin Liqun, head of the Chinese delegation and vice-minister of finance, told yesterday's ministerial conference that the Chinese Government attaches great importance to economic cooperation in the subregion.

While praising the subregional programme as a pragmatic one, Jin said: "China has also been active in working with member countries in developing projects covering areas such as flood control, water-resource management, navigation, agriculture, the enhancement of customs house clearance capacity and disaster alleviation, and has achieved significant results in this connection."

Since the 10th ministerial conference last year, China has actively participated in a number of key projects related to subregional cooperation.

The North-South Economic Corridor straddling China, Laos and Thailand is one of three economic corridors planned by the subregional programme, which also includes the East-West and Southern Economic Corridors.

The 11th ministerial conference of the subregion's Economic Cooperation Programme focused on discussing and reviewing the subregional programme and the 10-year subregional strategic framework, as well as preparations for the first ever subregional Summit of Leaders, which will be held on November 3 in Phnom Penh.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2002)