Delegates and dialogue partners from Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia yesterday discussed human resources development in the field of social sciences in the context of global integration.
The talks took place at the countries’ 5th annual international conference on this issue. Speaking at the meeting, President of the Laos Academy of Social Sciences (LASS), Prof. Dr Soukkongseng Saingaleuth, said Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia are working together to improve knowledge levels in the social sciences so they match global standards.
“This issue is an important factor for investment in science and technology, and the expansion and growth of regional and global integration. We need well trained personnel to meet the needs of development,” he said.
Prof. Dr Soukkongseng noted that the improvement of skills in the field of social sciences in the context of global integration would play a significant role in the development of the three nations.
He asked delegates and dialogue partners from the three countries to further enhance their cooperation and to share lessons in this line of work.
Yesterday’s meeting also discussed the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Mekong region, and the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and associated SDGs which signalled the firm global intent to integrate environmental development with economic and social development.
Delegates also assessed their work during 2016. Several agencies have announced their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda along with achieving environmentally sustainable, socially and economically inclusive development, which will require innovative action on all fronts.
The main aim of the talks was to address the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs by focusing on agricultural development and gender issues in the Sub-Mekong region.
The SDGs 2030 Agenda’s implications for countries in the Mekong region, including agricultural, environmental and gender issues, were debated, of which the most important was economic cooperation, according to LASS.
Delegates also discussed local climate adaptive living facility plans in the Mekong region, gender in the rapidly changing rural context, and financing for gender equality in agriculture, and took part in a panel discussion.
Challenges in the agriculture sector and rural development in the three countries were also touched upon.
The 6th annual international conference will be hosted by Cambodia in 2017.
During the meeting, Prof. Dr Soukkongseng referred to the 4th meeting about the ASEAN Economic Community’s effects with regard to transnational natural resources at an annual international conference on cross-border economic cooperation.
Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia agreed to carry out further research and discuss cross-border economic cooperation and a plan for combining their police forces.
This would help the three countries to integrate into the larger regional grouping and resolve problems related to competitive capacity, poverty reduction, and socio-economic inequality.
In recent years, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia have reemerged as part of the centre of economic gravity in the Asia Pacific region. With continued economic reform and trade openness, the three countries have made remarkable progress in the last decade with about 8 percent growth in annual Gross Domestic Product.
Due to the rapid pace of development, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia are regarded as the new frontier for growth in the region within the context of ASEAN regional generic integration
Source: Vientiane Times
