24th Greater Mekong Subregion Ministerial Conference
The 24th GMS Ministerial Conference (MC-24) was held on 4 November 2020 with the theme “Pave the way to a more integrated, inclusive, sustainable and prosperous GMS.”
Endorsed by the 21st Ministerial Conference on 1 December 2016, the Urban Development Working Group was formally established to oversee urban development and economic zones as new areas of cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Specifically, it will guide the implementation of subregional action plans, programs, and projects emanating from the GMS Urban Development Strategic Framework. It will serve as a platform and mechanism for the exchange of national and regional policies and strategies in urban development with a multisector approach, particularly in relation to strengthening regional cooperation and integration, development of GMS corridors, and special economic zones in border areas.
The 24th GMS Ministerial Conference (MC-24) was held on 4 November 2020 with the theme “Pave the way to a more integrated, inclusive, sustainable and prosperous GMS.”
GMS East-West Economic Corridor. This aerial view of the border check point on the Lao side of the Mekong River shows the second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, which connects Mukdahan province in Thailand with Savannakhet in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Photo: ADB.
The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Corridors Forum (ECF) in 2018 marks the 20th year of the GMS economic corridor development approach since its formal adoption at the 6th GMS Ministerial Conference in 1998 to accelerate subregional development. It is the 10th year of the forum since its inaugural meeting in Kunming, People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 2008. This is also the first ECF following the 6th GMS Summit in March 2018, which adopted the Hanoi Action Plan 2018–2022 that has among its key elements a spatial strategy focused on the economic corridors.
The 8th GMS Economic Corridors Forum (ECF-8) will be held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 4 August 2016.
The 7th GMS Economic Corridors Forum (ECF-7) was held in Kunming, Yunnan Province in the People’s Republic of China on 11 June 2015.
The 6th GMS Economic Corridors Forum (ECF-6) was held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam on 8 August 2014.
The 5th GMS Economic Corridors Forum (ECF-5) was held in Bangkok, Thailand on 7 August 2013.
The 4th GMS Economic Corridors Forum (ECF-4) was held in Mandalay, Myanmar on 28 June 2012.
The 3rd GMS Economic Corridors Forum (ECF-3) was held in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic on 30 June 2011.