The 6th Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Urban Development Working Group (UDWG) was held via web-based conferencing on 21 June 2023.
The 52nd GMS Tourism Working Group Meeting (TWG-52) was held on 21 November 2023. It was attended by senior and mid-level officials representing the National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, development partners and organizations including the ASEAN Japan Centre, GMS Secretariat and private sector.
The ASEAN Federation of Forwarders Associations (AFFA) met on 2 December 2023 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for their 33rd annual meeting, and discussed facilitation of goods transportation via inter-governmental cooperation in the region.
ASEAN countries have emphasized the development of logistics services, infrastructure, and trade facilitation measures, and promoting intra-bloc connectivity.
In his remarks at the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, Viet Nam Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính remarked that the country is eyeing to become a key transit hub and a crucial supply chain link for commerce between ASEAN nations and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Lao PDR Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, in his meeting with the Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), People's Republic of China (PRC), Mr. Lan Tianli, expressed hopes of enhancing their relationship further.
The Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd. (LCRC) continues to increase its capacity with the procurement of a new electric multiple unit (EMU) train in September. The added EMU will accommodate the growing number of train passengers and support Visit Laos Year 2024.
The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries convened the 29th (the final) Meeting of the GMS Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC-29) in a hybrid format (with inperson in Siem Reap, Cambodia and via web-based conferencing) on 5-6 July 2022. RPTCC-29 was a landmark meeting signaling the evolution of RPTCC into the GMS Energy Transition Taskforce (ETTF).
A smart border gate will be built at the Huu Nghi (Viet Nam) – Youyi Guan (PRC) border gate by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Viet Nam’s Lang Son Province.
The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR) plans to build a green food processing and manufacturing base for the ASEAN, said Mr. Xu Liqing, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of GZAR. He spoke at the Guangxi Food Processing Industry Chain Investment Promotion Conference held in Nanning, Guangxi, PRC.
A report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) underscored that international tourism arrivals are slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels. The reopening of several Asian source markets and destinations will contribute to tourism recovery in 2023.
Greater Mekong Subregion Secretariat
Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division,
Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
Address: 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 8632 4444 Fax: +63 2 8636 2226