The GMS economic cooperation program has been assisted by the Asian Development Bank since its inception in 1992, with a vision of creating a better integrated, more prosperous and equitable Mekong region.

The leaders of China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, countries sharing the Mekong River, attended the half-day summit in Phnom Penh and issued a Summit Declaration and a Development Program at its conclusion.

The Mekong River is an important trans-national river in Asia -- its Chinese section is known as the Lancang River.

Zhu said the GMS cooperation should proceed steadily on the basis of mutual respect, friendly consultation, self-determination and reciprocity.

He said the countries at both the upper and lower reaches of the river should take full consideration of other nations' interests and enjoy common benefits from joint development.

Zhu said with the support of the Asian Development Bank, the GMS cooperation should be effective, action-oriented and focus on specific projects to promote the overall economic development of countries along the river.

He said existing cooperation priorities on transportation, energy and telecommunications went hand-in-hand with the economic development of the region.

Zhu said the region should also push for cooperation in trade, improve the investment environment, the development of human resources, tourism, agriculture, drug prohibition and environmental protection.

"We should enhance our capabilities in ecological protection and rational development of water resources for a sustainable economic development," Zhu said.

Although noting China has been active in several major GMS projects this year, Zhu pledged more vigorous participation.

And he said the nation will continue its cooperation with GMS countries in shipping, agriculture and health and will next year hold training seminars on information technology, customs and trade.

China Sunday joined the GMS Agreement for the Facilitation of Cross-Border Movement of People and Goods.

The six countries also signed the Inter-governmental Agreement of Power Trade during the summit.

Zhu said China will work with the others for the early implementation of both agreements.

China released a report about its participation in the development of the Mekong River Basin.

In other developments Sunday, China and Laos signed an agreement for China's provision of US$30 million for the construction of the Laos section of the Kunming-Bangkok highway and an agreement on bilateral economic and technical cooperation.

China also signed exchange of letters with Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, granting them preferential tariff treatment as part of the United Nations' list of least developed countries.

The three countries will enjoy zero tariffs on some of the products they export to China from the beginning of 2004.

On the side of the summit, Zhu met Singapore Prime Minister Gok Chok Tong.

They exchanged views on the establishment of a free trade area between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

(China Daily November 4, 2002)