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The Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy or ACMECS, was established in 2003 as a platform to stimulate the economic cooperation and development of the sub-region revolving around the three major rivers – the Ayeyawady in Myanmar, the Chao Phraya in Thailand, and the Mekong which runs through Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Viet Nam.
Thailand
Lao PDR
Viet Nam
Myanmar
Cambodia
Mekong river
The initiative to establish ACMECS, which was then called the Economic Cooperation Strategy, has been raised at the special ASEAN Summit on SARS, held in Bangkok on 29 April 2003, with leaders of Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar, and Thailand.
Special Summit on SARS
1st ACMECS Summit
“Bagan Declaration”
Viet Nam Joins ACMECS
On 12 November 2003 in Bagan, Myanmar, The leaders of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand met for the first time at the historic Bagan Summit and adopted the Bagan Declaration, affirming their commitment to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership. They also agreed to call this cooperation agreement “Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy” or ACMECS. Soon later, on 10 May 2004, Viet Nam has joined the group resulting in having five member countries in ACMECS.
In addition, at the Bagan Summit, ACMECS member countries are also agreed to cooperate in five priority areas, which are Trade and Investment Facilitation, Agricultural and Industrial Cooperation, Transport lingkages, Tourism Cooperation and Human Resources Development. In the Second and Third ACMECS Summit, the country members have endorsed new sectors of cooperation, therefore, the areas of cooperation established under ACMECS are 1. Trade and Investment Facilitation 2. Agriculture 3. Transport 4. Tourism 5. Human Resource Development 6. Public Health 7. Industrial and Energy Cooperation and 8. Environmental Cooperation.
On 16 June 2018, at the eighth ACMECS Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, the ACMECS member countries have adopted the “ACMECS Master Plan 2019-2023” in which ACMECS Cooperation to be carried through three goals/pillars, namely,
Promote seamless connectivity through multi-modal transport links.
Enhance software connectivity by fostering trade, investment, industrial cooperation, and financial cooperation.
Promote the development of human capital in strategic areas, while retaining existing areas of cooperation established under ACMECS.
