为期两天的湄公河开发论坛于昨天在此结束。来自欧洲各国政府、商界及民间团体的代表同大湄公河次区域（GMS）国家部长及官员代表团进行了会谈。会谈的目的是培育更多的合作，协助推进大湄公河次区域的一体化进程，并实现可持续和均衡的经济增长。
该论坛是由亚行组织并由法国经济部、财政部、工业部和法国开发署承办的。
法国外交部负责对外合作、开发和法语地区的部长Xavier Darcos 表示，“我们认为大湄公河次区域是东亚地区最具活力的区域之一。该次区域的开发规划目标非常远大，特别是考虑到这些国家之间在政体、民族以及发展水平上参差不齐，这些目标就显得更加雄心勃勃。”
“法国在协助该地区实现一体化的进程中扮演的角色，有些类似于我们在欧盟的发展历程中起到的作用，我们将力图改善这些国家中2.5亿人的生活水平。”
在论坛上，各方代表讨论了大湄公河次区域国家目前面临的主要挑战，包括：
* 次区域内部的连接 — 基础设施的关键作用
* 贸易与投资－在全球市场的竞争
* 环境治理－不要因小失大
* 能力建设－增强技能与学习
* 加强合作－扩大合作伙伴关系
亚行副行长金立群在发言时指出，过去十年中，大湄公河次区域实现了很不寻常的转型过程。
他说，“大规模的基础设施建设，以及向市场经济体制转轨有助于增进跨边界贸易与投资。而重点在于跨边界问题，如交通和贸易设施的各项合作，进一步推动了市场一体化的进程。”他指出，“过去十年中，该次区域人民的生活水平也得到了显著的改善，所有的社会指标都表现出显著的进步。”
大湄公河次区域的六个国家——柬埔寨、中国(云南省)、老挝、缅甸、泰国和越南——的陆地面积相当于新近扩大了的欧盟的二分之一强，而人口则与之相当。代表们也学习了欧盟的经验教训。
欧洲过去的挑战是消除贸易和其他非物理性壁垒。各方均同意，鉴于该地区具备成为经济增长火车头的巨大潜力，大湄公河各国政府也必须承诺开放地区贸易和投资。但是，同欧洲不同的是，该地区的基础设施，如公路、电力和电信等，比较落后。
金立群先生指出，大湄公河次区域国家在过去半个世纪曾经发生过冲突和不同程度的孤立——而在这些年里，欧盟却在推动区域合作，并且扩大后的欧盟中所有国家都成功地避免了武装冲突。
他还表示，“该次区域目前最紧迫的问题是一些国家的政府机构很薄弱，它们缺乏管理开放型经济的经验，以及同邻国及整个亚洲和整个世界实现一体化的能力。”
“但是，湄公河流域各国却正处于亚洲最大的两个国家，印度和中国之间，并且两者的发展都非常快。大湄公河次区域可以充分利用其有利的地理位置来从贸易、旅游和投资中获益。”
各方代表均认为，对于世界其他贫困地区而言，在未来十年实现减贫的千禧年发展目标不应当以环境的恶化为代价。最近几年来的发展都竭力避免对环境造成过重的负担。但金先生也指出，“我们绝不能够在这方面放送警惕。”
代表们回顾了北欧国家在保持波罗的海生态环境方面的合作，并认为这对湄公河流域的合作会有借鉴意义。
在论坛上还讨论了欧洲内部贸易自由化进程，因为大湄公河次区域的官僚体制对贸易和投资有不小的阻碍作用。会议着重讨论了欧盟在海关协调方面的经验。
代表们还探讨了欧洲各捐赠国通过其海外开发署的项目提供援助的最有效途径。他们还讨论了欧洲企业应当如何在大湄公河次区域各国寻找机会并同时满足该地区的需要，特别在是有关基础设施和金融中介服务方面。
金立群先生最后表示，“我们希望这两天的论坛是欧洲和大湄公河次区域之间可持续合作的开端。这种合作将有巨大的互利互惠潜力，亚行承诺同我们在欧洲和亚行的政府合作伙伴（以及股东们）一道，保持推进本周在巴黎肇始的这项合作。”
COUNTRIES OF GREATER MEKONG SUBREGION AND EUROPE EXPLORE COLLABORATION
PARIS, FRANCE (30 June 2004) - Representatives of European governments, business, and civil society completed two days of talks here yesterday with ministers and officials from the countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). The talks aimed at fostering greater collaboration, assisting the GMS with its efforts at integration, and achieving sustainable and equitable economic growth.
The Mekong Development Forum was organized by ADB and hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry of France and the French development agency, AFD.
"We see the Greater Mekong Subregion as one of the most dynamic in East Asia. The objectives of the development program for the subregion are ambitious, especially considering that the countries involved are governed by diverse political systems as well as having heterogeneous populations and varied levels of development," said Xavier Darcos, Minister for Cooperation, Development and Francophony, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France.
"The involvement of France in assisting the process of regional integration bears some similarity to the experience with the European Union (EU), and seeks to improve the living standards of the 250 million inhabitants of the countries concerned."
During the Forum, delegates discussed the major challenges facing the GMS countries, including:
* Connecting the GMS - The Vital Role of Infrastructure
* Trade and Investment - Competing in the World's Marketplace
* Managing the Environment - Not Missing the Wood for the Trees
* Building Capacity - Enhancing Skills and Learning
* Strengthening Cooperation - Expanded Partnerships.
ADB Vice-President Liqun Jin told the delegates that the past decade has witnessed a remarkable transition in the GMS.
"Massive infrastructure development, accompanied by a shift to market-based economies, has helped boost cross-border trade and investments. Cooperation focusing on cross-border issues such as transport and trade facilitation is further driving market integration," he said. "The past decade has also witnessed improvements in the well being of people of the subregion, with all the social indicators showing significant improvement."
The six countries that make up the GMS - Cambodia, Yunnan Province of the People's Republic of China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam - account for a little over half the land mass and a similar proportion of the population of the newly enlarged EU. The delegates drew some lessons from Europe's experiences.
In Europe, the challenge was to remove trade and other nonphysical barriers. It was agreed that the GMS governments must also commit themselves to liberalizing regional trade and investment given its great potential as an engine of growth. But, unlike Europe, the region suffers from infrastructure shortcomings in roads, electric power, and telecoms.
Mr. Jin noted that several of the GMS countries have experienced conflict and varying degrees of isolation during the past half century - years when the EU was building regional cooperation and all the countries of the enlarged Europe were able to avoid armed conflict.
"The overhang of the troubles of the subregion have meant that in several countries institutions are weak, and the capacity to manage the decentralization of their economies, along with integration with their neighbors and the rest of Asia and the rest of the world, is limited," he commented.
"But the Mekong countries sit directly between the two largest countries in Asia, India and China, both of which are growing rapidly. The opportunity exists for the GMS to benefit from its geographic position through trade, tourism, and investments," he said.
As with other poor regions of the world, meeting the Millennium Development Goals for poverty reduction over the next decade must not come at the expense of the environment, the delegates agreed. The advances made in recent years have been carefully managed to minimize environmental stress. "However, we can never afford to relax our vigilance," said Mr. Jin.
Delegates were reminded of how the Nordic countries collaborated to preserve the ecology of the Baltic, and they concluded that there may be lessons there for collaboration on the use of the Mekong River.
During the Forum, lessons from Europe's internal trade liberalization in the light of the bureaucratic obstacles that hinder trade and investment in the GMS were also discussed. The EU's experience with customs harmonization was highlighted.
Delegates explored the most effective way in which European donors can help through their ODA programs. They also discussed how businesses in Europe can seek opportunities, which will, in turn, address the needs of the GMS countries, especially concerning infrastructure and financial intermediation.
"The past two days have launched what we hope will become a sustained collaborative effort between Europe and the Greater Mekong Subregion," Mr. Jin concluded. "There are tremendous potential mutual benefits from such cooperation and we at ADB are committed to working with our partners (and shareholders) in governments both here in Europe and in Asia to maintain the momentum that has been launched in Paris this week."
ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 63 members - 45 from the region. In 2003, it approved loans and technical assistance amounting to US$6.1 billion and US$177 million, respectively.
