Following the opening ceremony of ACMECS Summit, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra attended a closed-session meeting with the leaders from Lao PDR, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and ASEAN’s Secretary General to follow up and review past ACMECS cooperation and plan for future cooperation strategy. PM’s Secretary General Suranand Vejajiva revealed detail of the meeting particularly on the role of Thailand within the ACMECS framework. Gist as follows:

ACMECS was initiated by Thailand during PM Thaksin Shinawatra administration in 2003 with an aim to promote balanced development, reduce income disparity, and instill trust among the member countries. During the past 10 years, concrete results have been achieved particularly in the area of infrastructure development, such as Cambodia’s R48 and R67 routes, the 3rd and 4th bridges crossing Mekong river in Lao PDR, the 2nd bridge crossing Sai River in Myanmar, and a Mae Sot- Myawaddy- Tanaosri- Korkarek route. Moreover, results have been seen in the fields of human resources development, establishment of border industrial estate, tourism, agriculture, and public health.

During the discussion, PM Yingluck reiterated the significance of ACMECS as a Mekong River basin cooperative framework that Thailand prioritized because of close ties among ACMECS member countries and their becoming one single family as ASEAN Community in 2015.

At the meeting, an Action Plan for 2013-2015 was approved. The action plan reflects ACMECS’ operation that is in line with the ASEAN framework of unity and mutual interests. Under the action plan, “single production base” scheme will be pushed forward to stabilize the region as one of the world’s agricultural and industrial production chains. In order to realize the scheme, ACMECS member countries must join hands in mobilizing trade, investment, logistics, transportation, and cross-border activities. For this, Thailand has constantly given its priority to infrastructure development projects during the past 10 years particularly routes with potentiality in trade, investment, and tourism which can connect not just a few countries but the whole region.

Thailand has supported several infrastructure projects under ACMECS cooperative framework, such as the 3rd bridge crossing Mekong River (Nakhon Phanom- Khammouane) between Thailand and Lao PDR which better shortens the transportation route from Thailand to Vietnam and further to Guangxi of China than the 2nd bridge (Mukdahan-Savannakhet). The route Myawaddy- Korkarek is another example that connects not only Thailand and Myanmar but also the western and eastern economic zones, as well as being a connecting route between Thailand, Myanmar, and India. Furthermore, the Thai Government has agreed to support the construction of motorways route Ban Huag-Muangkhob-Chiang Hon, and route Hongsa- Chiang Man which will connect the upper northern area of Thailand with Laos’ Luang Prabang and China. The construction of a 6-km railway from Aranyaprathet to Poipet will also begin this year which will complete a rail route under the ASEAN Master Plan.

Nevertheless, infrastructure development must be done along with cross-border facilitation, as well as upgrade of border crossing points, and immigrations and customs process. A tri-lateral meeting between Thailand, Lao PDR, and Vietnam is another attempt to overcome challenges related to border crossing along the western-eastern route, that is, the Mukdahan-Savannakhet, and Lao Bảo-Dan Savan crossing points. Myanmar and Cambodia will be invited to the next meeting of this kind. PM Yingluck also proposed for ACMECS leaders to endorse facilitation of border crossing outside of the GMS cooperative framework particularly the crossing points along Highways no. 8 and 12 as well as along the border of Thai-Myanmar such as Mae Sai-Tachilek, Mae Sot-Myawaddy, and Phu Nam Ron-Dawei.

On promotion of tourism, formation of tourism corridors connecting major tourist areas of the 5 member countries, that is, Phu Kam, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Siem Riep, and Hue, was discussed. ACMECS Single Visa is also another scheme to promote tourism under ACMECS framework. Thailand and Cambodia have reached an agreement and successfully launched the single visa scheme. So, PM Yingluck called for Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam to consider being part of the scheme to reach the ultimate goal of “5 countries 1 destination”.

PM Yingluck also proposed cooperation strategy on rice that there must be 3 levels of cooperative mechanism, that is, 1) ministerial level, 2) working group level, and 3) rice millers and trader level.

On the quality of life and healthcare of people along the border areas, it is agreed that healthcare network be well connected. For this, Thailand expressed its readiness in sharing experiences on the Universal Health Coverage Scheme and social security system that have been successfully implemented in the country. Furthermore, Thailand is considering the upgrade of medical facilities along the economically significant border areas such as Myawaddy-Mae Sot, and Mae Sai-Tachilek.

Lastly, the meeting unanimously agreed on the upgrade of ACMECS cooperation for the best interests of people and the region, and approved the Vientiane Declaration and ACMECS’ Action Plan for 2013-2015. The next ACMECS Summit will be held in Myanmar next year.