3rd GMS Environment Ministers’ meeting begins in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Ministers of Environment of the six Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries  gathered here on Thursday to decide on the continued regional action plan 2012-2016 for environment cooperation to ensure  balanced and sustainable economic growth in the GMS countries.
  Speaking during opening the meeting, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the meeting was very important to revise  progress and challenge in the GMS countries on environment issues.
  He said the proper protection of environment and natural resources are a necessary condition to ensure the substantial  development of national economy.  
  “The carelessness on environmental risks such as climate change will cause huge impact on water supply and use,  telecommunication infrastructure, food security, energy, and bio-diversity to each country and the whole region,” he said.
  “The meeting is also a good chance to find out mechanism to strengthen and expand friendship and cooperation among GMS  countries in order to bring mutual benefits and prosperity to each country’s people.”
  The GMS countries have engaged in regional environmental cooperation since 2006 through the Core Environment Program  and Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (CEP-BCI). This 30 million U.S. dollar program is expected to end in  December 2011.
  Cambodian Minister of Environment Mok Mareth said Thursday that the meeting would endorse the action plan 2012-2016 of  CEP-BCI, in which the Asian Development Bank would support with the amount of fund up to 69 million U.S. dollars for  Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
  The GMS countries consist of China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.