On the afternoon of November 7, in Kunming, Yunnan, China, the 11th CLMV (Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Viet Nam) Cooperation Summit took place with the participation of heads of delegations from CLMV countries, and the ASEAN Secretary-General.

With the theme of “Friendship and Solidarity for a Resilient and Prosperous Community,” the summit outlined major directions to harness the potential of CLMV countries, seize opportunities from new development trends, become a leading attractive investment destination in the region, and create breakthroughs for CLMV cooperation. The meeting adopted a joint statement underscoring the shared commitment to strengthening ties and promoting regional prosperity.

The year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of CLMV cooperation. CLMV cooperation has made significant contributions to the development of the four countries and the Mekong subregion, particularly in promoting sustainable development, narrowing development gaps, and building the ASEAN Community.

Earlier, in preparation for the CLMV Summit, on September 18, in Vientiane, Laos, the 16th CLMV Economic Ministers' Meeting (CLMV EMM 16) was held under the chairmanship of Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith, joined by representatives from the Ministries of Industry and Commerce of the four countries.

The meeting adopted the CLMV Action Plan for the period 2025-2026 and tasked senior officials from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Viet Nam to promote effective implementation of the Action Plan. The heads of delegations affirmed their commitment to continue close cooperation to enhance collaboration among the four CLMV countries, striving for strong and sustainable development in the CLMV region, aiming to become a high-middle-income economy by 2030, and contributing to realizing the goals of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2025 Master Plan.

In the context of the regional and international landscape facing various challenges, CLMV economies still show positive signs. The value of merchandise trade among CLMV countries in 2023 reached 767.7 billion USD, accounting for 21.6% of the total trade value within ASEAN; foreign direct investment in CLMV countries increased by 5.4%, from 25.1 billion USD in 2022 to 26.4 billion USD in 2023.