The Inaugural Ministerial Meeting on Mekong-Ganga Cooperation was held on 10th November, in Vientiane, the Capital of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and was preceded by a preparatory meeting of the Senior Officials held in Vientiane on 9th November, 2000.
The Meeting was attended by H.E. Mr. Veng Seryvuth, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia; H.E. Mr. Jaswant Singh, Minister of External Afffairs of India; H.E. Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR; H.E. Mr. Maj-General Saw Lwin, Minister of Hotels and Tourism of the Union of Myanmar; H.E. Mr. Adisai Bodharamik, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office of the Thailand and H.E. Mr. Nguyen Dy Nien, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist of Vietnam, as Heads of respective Delegations.
The meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR.
Vientiane Declaration on Mekong-Ganga Cooperation
We, the Ministers of Cambodia, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, met in Vientiane on November 10, 2000 to discuss the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation initiatives announced by the foreign ministers of the six countries in Bangkok on July 28, 2000 on the occasion of the AMM/PMC Meeting.
IN KEEPING with the spirit of existing framework of tourism cooperation in the region.
DETERMINED to promote common heritage through greater cooperation.
INSPIRED by a common desire to develop closer relations and better understanding among the six countries to enhance friendship, solidarity, and cooperation.
DESIROUS of promoting the mutual benefit of the people of Cambodia, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam through multi-faceted cooperation in the areas of Tourism, Culture, Education and Communication.
INSPIRED by a common desire to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC).
DO hereby declare that:
We shall cooperate in the promotion and development of tourism. To this end we shall encourage and facilitate the following activities in accordance with the objectives and mechanism stipulated in the concept paper annexed to this statement:
I. Tourism
1. Conduct strategic studies for joint marketing and convening of top level tourism marketing missions to promote the MGC;
2. Launch the Mekong-Ganga Tourism Investment Guide;
3. Establish networks among tourism training institutions and conduct seminars in tourism promotion;
4. Facilitate the travel of people in the region;
5. Arrange and facilitate easy access to necessary information about existing cultural heritage sites in MGC countries;
6. Expand multi-modal communication and transpotation linkages among member countries to encourage travel and tourism in the region;
7. Promote package tours to famous cultural, religious and eco-tourism sites of the MGC countries.
II. Culture
1 Promote joint research in the dance, music and theatrical forms and traditions of the MGC countries;
2 Organise round tables for journalists, writers and experts in literature, performing arts, women’s empowerment, health, nutritution, etc. for the service of tourism;
3 Exert common efforts to expand the export market for the handicrafts and traditional textiles of the MGC countries;
4 Ste up a clear programme of conservation and preservation of old manuscripts amongst the member countries;
5 Conserve, preserve and protect heritage sites and artifacts in MGC countries;
6 Exert joint efforts to identify and conduct campaigns for the region in UNESCO World Heritage list;
7 Set up information network and exchange in performing arts, traditional rites, rituals, and festivals among the member countries;
III. Human Resources Development
1 Promote the exchange students and faculty between recognized technology and management institutions in MGC countries and provide MGC scholarships for outstanding students in specific subjects;
2 Encourage the establishment of networking and twinning arrangements among MGC universities; particularly in the areas of social sciences, humanities, engineering and area studies;
3 Participate in book fairs in member countries on a commercial basis;
4 Promote programmes in specific subjects including for the teaching of the languages of MGC countries;
5 Seek financial support for research work on economic, historical and cultural themes of relevance of tourism to two or more MGC countires.
IV. Transport & Communication
1 Deploy efforts to develop transportation networks in the region in particular the East-West Corridor project and the Trans-Asian Highway;
2 Streghten cooperation in the development of IT infrastructures and networks;
3 Promote cooperation in air services and linkages in the region.