Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (first from left) and leaders of China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand , as well as the Asian Development Bank leadership at the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit, Kunming, China

The 8th GMS Summit, held in Yunnan Province, China, was attended by heads of government, heads of delegations of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China, and Vietnam; President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and representatives of many international and regional organizations. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh led a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to the summit at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Reflecting on the GMS’s development over the past 30 years, the leaders highlighted the substantial contributions of this cooperation framework to the region's progress. They specifically acknowledged achievements in transport infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, and the enhancement of industrial and agricultural capacities. More than 12,500 kilometers of roads and 1,000 kilometers of railways have been constructed, while nearly 3,000 MW of electricity has been generated. In addition, over 2,600 kilometers of power transmission lines have been established, providing electricity to more than 165,000 households across the region.

In 2021-2024, the GMS mobilized nearly US$133 billion to implement more than 500 development projects in the subregion. The North-South and East-West economic corridors have emerged as exemplary models of cross-border economic cooperation and connectivity. These corridors have played an important role in boosting regional trade and investment, while also linking remote areas to key seaports, airports, and major economic hubs, thereby fostering greater economic integration and development across the Greater Mekong Subregion. With a deep understanding of the far-reaching and multi-dimensional impacts of the technological revolution, the 8th GMS Summit was themed “Towards a Better Community through Innovation-driven Development.”

In his opening speech to the summit, Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized that innovation is a key driver of economic growth, expressing China's willingness to share innovation outcomes, promote hard and soft infrastructure connectivity, enhance subregional connectivity through policy coordination, standard harmonization, people-to-people exchange and ease of mobility. He pledged to grant 5-year multiple-entry Mekong-Lancang visas for businesses and experts of member countries.

The leaders underlined the need to strengthen cooperation to harness remarkable advancements in science and technology for green transition and digital transformation in the Mekong subregion. They agreed to establish a GMS Innovation System with the three key pillars of digitalization, green transition and connectivity. Regarding digitalization, the GMS will foster programs and projects on training digital human resources, boosting cross-border digital economic connectivity and building a legal framework for digital economic development.

On green transformation, the GMS focuses on supporting members to effectively apply green, environmentally friendly technology to the sustainable use and comprehensive management of natural resources, especially cross-border water resources; conserving ecosystems and biodiversity; and developing smart agriculture.

Regarding connectivity, the GMS concentrates on fostering innovative solutions on cross-border connectivity; encouraging dialogues between authorities and policymakers; and sharing knowledge, technological solutions and business models. The leaders also encouraged the coordination between the GMS and other regional and subregional cooperation mechanisms and initiatives to create new momentum for subregional development.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chinese Premier Li Qiang witness the exchange of diplomatic notes between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and China regarding the establishment of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Chongqing, China during the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit

At the summit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted the lessons drawn in the 32 years of GMS cooperation and pointed out appropriate directions for the mechanism in this new development stage. He also underlined its strategic role in the subregion’s international integration and development and stressed five valuable lessons learnt from its success.

First, conducting equal, widespread consultations, and strengthening consensus among members for shared benefits.

Second, building result-oriented cooperation strategies and programs that fit the actual needs of each country and the subregion.

Third, placing people at the heart of cooperation and fostering economic connectivity in line with environmental protection.

Fourth, combining each member's efforts with the support of the ADB and development partners

Fifth, turning challenges into motivation for progress. More effort, determination and solidarity are needed to build a joint strength that drives cooperation and development.

Prime Minister Chinh underscored that, as it evolves and develops, the GMS must have continuous innovation and creativity to both keep pace with global trends and meet its development demand. With this mindset, he suggested that it is time for the GMS to focus on developing new-generation innovation-driven economic corridors that go beyond the traditional economic corridor. On that basis, Chinh proposed three key cores of these new-generation economic corridors as follows:

First, a corridor of technology and innovation should be created to foster multi-stakeholder, multi-sector and multi-phase connectivity. Focus is placed on supporting countries in addressing gaps in institutional frameworks, policies, technological competences and innovation resources, including human and financial resources.

Second, an economic growth corridor will both revitalize traditional growth drivers and foster new ones. Together with transport, industrial and agricultural production infrastructure projects, the GMS should expand investments to create corridors for semiconductors, artificial intelligence, new materials and clean energy; and build digital platforms, broaden digital markets and improve digital skills for businesses and workers. A substantial and effective transformation is needed to facilitate the smooth flow of capital, goods and services within the GMS region.

Third, the green, sustainable and inclusive corridor ensures a balance between economic growth and environmental protection, with people placed as the heart, the subject and the driving force of development. The GMS should further strengthen cooperation programs on the environment and ecosystems, disaster management and climate change response. The GMS should also place special emphasis on collaborating with the Mekong River Commission in effective, sustainable and equitable management and use of the shared Mekong-Lancang river system while promoting technological application in integrated transboundary water resources management.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that GMS members need to stay united and coordinate in responding to challenges and believed that, with the perspective of “valuing time, valuing intellect, innovating to make breakthrough, creating to go further, integrating to move forward and uniting for greater strength", this summit will help realize the GMS’s vision and goals. He affirmed that Vietnam will continue to work closely with member countries and development partners to jointly build an innovative, dynamic, sustainable and prosperous GMS.

The Summit successfully wrapped up with GMS members unanimously adopting the Joint Statement and the GMS Innovation Strategy for Development to 2030. The summit also noted six documents on climate and environment, digitalization, investment, gender equality, healthcare, and digitalization of trade documents for implementation in the coming time.