US-Vietnam Seminar on Lower Mekong Initiative Infrastructure
VNA - The Ministries of Transport and Foreign Affairs coordinated with the US Embassy to hold a seminar called “Lower Mekong Initiative Infrastructure Best Practices Exchange” on January 14.
The two-day seminar, which is part of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI), aims to create an opportunity to share experiences in infrastructure development among Mekong countries and other regions in the world.
More than 150 Government officials and businessmen from the six member countries of the LMI, plus a number of international organisations, discussed infrastructure targets and visions in the Mekong region, as well as the experience and policies of the US and other countries in public-private cooperation.
Addressing the event, Transport Vice Minister Truong Tan Vien said a synchronous infrastructure system, especially transport infrastructure, is considered a step forward by the Vietnamese Government that will help Vietnam develop into an industrialised nation by 2020.
Vien highly valued the role of the private sector’s capital and management experiences, and called on US and Mekong region investors to join transport projects in Vietnam.
US Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear highlighted the potential benefits of regional cooperation. He said cooperation among the LMI members can generate cleaner electricity to power regional development; build modern airports, seaports, and transport networks to move goods efficiently; and build information networks to move ideas and drive innovation.
Meanwhile, the US State Department’s Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs, Lorraine Hariton, said that this LMI exchange was important because it brought regional governments, and local and international businesses together to discuss infrastructure best practices that would benefit everyone in the region.
LMI was established in 2009. Its members are the US, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar (Myanmar became an official member in 2012). The initiative focuses on six sectors including the environment and water, healthcare, education, connection, agriculture and food, and energy security.-VNA
