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Full Text: Country Report on China´s Participation in Greater Mekong Subregion Cooperation

III. New Progresses in Chinese Participation in GMS Cooperation

Since the 2nd GMS summit for economic cooperation in 2005, the Chinese Government has make continued efforts to promote GMS cooperation, and has played an active role in the various coordination mechanisms. China has continued to deepen its cooperation with other GMS member nations in the nine key fields, namely, communication, energy, telecommunications, environment protection, agriculture, human resource development, tourism, and facilitation of trade and investment. Meanwhile, it has continuously pushed forward the cooperation in other fields such as health and drug prohibition. A lot of successes have been made in both sectors.

(I) New Progresses in Communication Cooperation

The Laos 1/3 section of the western line of the south-north economic corridor (Kunming-Laos-Bangkok Road), for which China is responsible for providing the construction funds, was completed in June 2006, one year earlier than scheduled. At present, China is intensifying its efforts to renovate the 175km domestic section between Xiaomengyang and Mohan, has aiming for its completion and operation in the first half of 2008. The 400km high grade road between Kunming and Hekou in China, as a section of the central line of the south-north economic corridor (Kunming-Hanoi-Haiphong),is expected to be completed and put in use in 2008.Besides, the construction of the Hekou-Lao Cai Road Bridge across the Red River, as a part of this transportation artery, was initiated in 2006 and is expected to be finished in 2008. As for the eastern line (Kunming-Nanning-Hanoi) of the south-north economic corridor, the 179km expressway between Nanning and Friendship Pass (Huu Nghi Border Gate) within China was already completed and put in use at the end of 2005. As for the north corridor (Kunming-Dali-Ruili-Myanmar), the 497km section from Kunming via Anning, Chuxiong and Dali to Baoshan within China has been built into an expressway, and the 78km section between Baoshan and Longling, which is being built with ADB loans, is expected to be finished in 2008. In terms of navigation channel construction, the principal part of the project of building a 71km five-star navigation channel along the Lancang (Mekong) River from Jinghong to the 243rd monument of the China-Myanmar border has been accomplished, with the work of renovating the channel and eliminating the dangers already basically finished, so that the section of the domestic section of the Mekong River up to Jinghong has become navigable for 300t vessels.

Thanks to the close cooperation between China and the other GMS countries, the annexes and protocols of "The Agreement on Cross-Border Transportation of People and Goods in the GMS" (CBTA for short) have been fully signed, the domestic acceptance procedures for all the 17 annexes and 3 protocols of CBTA have been fulfilled, and China and Vietnam have signed a memorandum of understanding on preliminary implementation of CBTA at the Hekou-Lao Cai border. As prescribed by CBTA, China has established a CBTA commission to coordinate and deal with the specific questions which might be encountered during CBTA implementation. China has compiled its Country Action Plan and Implementation Manual for CBTA implementation, and has held training classes on CBTA and its annexes and protocols for relevant departments of the central government, related agencies of Yunnan and Guangxi, and the offices of united inspection from the involved 7 ports.

China has taken an active part in cooperation for the Pan-Asia Railway, and has organized researches of both the domestic section and the sections outside the country. With the international aid provided by the Chinese government, the preliminary feasibility research for the 255km Bat Deung-Loc Ninh section (within Cambodia), where no existing railway is available, has been completed, as has the survey for the approximately 150km section between Muse and Lashio in Myanmar. The domestic sections of the supposed eastern, central and western lines of the Pan-Asia Railway have all been included as projects of "The Mid- and Long-term Plan for Railway Networks of China" and "The 11th Five-Year Plan for Railway Construction". For the eastern line, the newly built Yuxi-Mengzi Railway was started in 2005 and is expected to be completed in 2010, and the project proposal for newly building the railway between Mengzi and Hekou has been approved. For the western line, the feasibility research report onthe project of expanding the capacity of the Kunming-Guangtong Railway was approved, and the project was launched in 2007; review of the preparatory feasibility research of the project of expanding the capacity of the Guangtong-Dali Railway has been performed, and the project proposal has been submitted, so the project is expected to begin soon; the feasibility research report on newly building a railway between Dali and Ruili has received approval from the Chinese government and the important parts of the project have already begun. For the central line, the preliminary feasibility research will be initiated at an appropriate time in view of both domestic social and economic development as well as the progress of the sections outside the country.

China further improved the functions of its existing airports, built an appropriate number of branch airports, and continued to expand the network of air routes, so to form a network of airports together with the general airports in the region and promote the air transportation among GMS countries. On one hand, China and Thailand in 2004 and China and Myanmar in 2006 respectively realized mutual access to each other's air transportation market. On the other, China has made much progress in aviation cooperation with Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos due to increased economic exchanges in recent years. In 2007, between China and the rest GMS countries, 16 airlines companies were flying 39 international airlines, 2 more companies and 1 more airline compared with 2005.

(II) New Progresses in Energy Cooperation

As the beginning, the 110kw power line connecting Hekou of Yunnan Province and Lao Cai in Vietnam officially began to send electricity on September 25th, 2004. Today, China Southern Power Grid is providing electricity to Vietnam through two 220kw power lines and three 110kw power lines. Till the end of 2007, China had provided totally 410 million kilowatt hours of electricity. In August 2006 and November 2006, China separately signed a memorandum with Laos and Vietnam by which China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd. would invest to construct Nam Tha No.1 hydropower station in Laos and Phase I of Vinh Tan Coal-fired Power Plant in Binh Thuan Province of Vietnam in the BOT pattern. Besides, China and Cambodia officially signed The Memorandum of Understanding on China Southern Power Grid Company Limited's Undertaking Feasibility Research for Sambor (With a planned installation capacity of 3000MW) and Stungcheayareng (With a planned installation capacity of 26MW) Hydropower Projects in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Currently, China is working hard to speed up the feasibility research for these projects in accordance with the requirements of the memorandum. Chinese power companies also contacted related departments of Myanmar for development of hydraulic power.

(III) New Progresses in Telecommunications Cooperation

The GMS Information Highway (GMS IS) Phase I project has proceeded smoothly; the domestic construction work within China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam has been completed, and the international connections including the China-Laos, China-Vietnam, China-Myanmar, Laos-Myanmar, Thailand-Myanmar, Laos-Vietnam, and Vietnam-Cambodia connections, have all been fulfilled. The construction of the sections within Myanmar and Cambodia has also started, and the first phase is expected to be completed by the end of March, 2008. China Kunming International Entry-Exit Bureau was established in August 2007. In addition, China assisted ADB in holding the 7th GMS telecommunications forum in Guilin, Guangxi. After successfully holding the first training program for senior telecommunications officials of GMS countries, China has held another three sessions of such training.

(IV) New Progresses in Agricultural Cooperation

In April 2007, Beijing sponsored the first GMS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting. The meeting reviewed and endorsed The Strategic Framework for Subregional Cooperation in Agriculture and Core Agriculture Support Program (CASP) for 2006-2010, published "The United Declaration of the GMS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting", clarifying the strategy, major fields and key projects for GMS cooperation in agriculture in the future 4 years. With strong support from other ADB and other GMS countries, the GMS Agriculture Information Network Service (AINS), of which China played a leading role in the organization, construction and management, entered operation in April 2007, becoming an important platform for exchange of agricultural information between GMS countries.

China attaches importance to cooperation with other GMS countries in training and popularizing of agricultural technologies. In the past three years, China has invested a total of about 2 million yuan, held 7 training classes, and trained technicians from other GMS countries for 130 person-times. China has actively organized its relevant provinces to undertake the model biogas projects for rural households in GMS countries like Cambodia and Laos, launched the model projects for growing rubber siblings and rubber processing and set up an agricultural technology park in Myanmar, and cooperated with the government of Cambodia in a model pig breeding project. Besides, utilizing Special Funds for Regional Cooperation in Asia funded by the Chinese Government and the China-ASEAN Cooperation Fund, China has engaged in cooperation with Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam for prevention and control of animal epidemics to promote cross-border epidemic prevention and control in the sub-region.

(V) New Progresses in Environmental Cooperation

China has been active in sub-regional cooperation for environmental protection. It advocated and made efforts to build a biodiversity protection corridor, established its National Support Unit (NSU) for this project, and listed Xishuangbanna and the Shangrila-Deqin region in Yunnan Province as the key region for the first phase of the project. Besides, in 2007, China successfully sponsored the 13th meeting of GMS environment working team and the "Colorful Yunnan" International Forum for Biodiversity Protection in Guangxi and Yunnan respectively, expanding Chinese participation into GMS environmental cooperation and the influence of the biodiversity protection program. The 13thmeeting of GMS environment working team also clarified that Guangxi would take part in the second phase of the biodiversity protection program.

(VI) New Progresses in Health Cooperation

China actively engaged in GMS health cooperation, laying its focus on epidemic prevention and control in border regions. In 2005 and 2007, China implemented trial projects for AIDS prevention and control in the China-Myanmar, China-Laos and China-Vietnam border regions, the trial project for united malaria prevention and control at some parts of the China-Myanmar border region, and the cooperation program for tuberculosis control for migrant population in the China-Vietnam border region. Especially for AIDS prevention and control, China has realized cross-border prevention and control at the key points of all the borders connecting China with other GMS countries. In addition, in October and November 2007, China held two training sessions about bird flu diagnosis and check, and trained 10 technicians from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand and helped them to acquire stronger professional ability. Partly due to the Chinese initiative, the first GMS health forum was held in Vientiane, Laos in November 2007.

(VII) New Progresses in Tourism Cooperation

In 2007, China sponsored the 20th meeting of GMS tourism working team. China has been actively implementing the projects for which The GMS Tourism Development Strategy requires China to play a leading role, and has initiated the work of compiling The Plan of Transnational Tourist Lines in the Upper Mekong (Golden Square) Tourism Region and The Plan of Transnational Tourist Lines in the Western Yunnan-Northern Myanmar Region. Substantial progresses have been achieved in China-Vietnam cooperation in border tourism, especially in the project of "The Karst Mountain-Sea Tourism Area in the Border Region Between Northeast Vietnam and Guangxi". The Gaolin-Jiulongtan Vietnam-China border drifting project in Fangchenggang, Guangxi already went in operation in 2006, as did the Vietnam-China border drifting project at Dongxing, Guangxi. China cooperated with Vietnam and Cambodia respectively in planning large-scale natural-setting performance programs entitled "Impression-Halong Bay" and "Impression-Angkor Wat". Strenuous efforts have been made to promote cooperation for Pan-Beibuwan Bay tourism and the "Two Corridors, One Circle" tourism cooperation between China and Vietnam, and a maritime tourist line has been opened between Beihai and Halong Bay of Vietnam. China has also funded the training of some tourist talents from Laos and Vietnam.

(VIII) New Progresses in Human Resource Cooperation

The Chinese government highly values the personnel exchange and cooperation among GMS member countries. Utilizing the "China-ASEAN Cooperation Fund" and the "Asia Regional Cooperation Special Fund" financed by China, China has actively engaged in cooperation with other GMS members in human resource development. Since 2005, through holding various workshops and technology training classes, the Chinese government each year trained a large number of officials and technical talents for other GMS countries. Till now, the first two sessions of the "Phnom Penh Program" has provided over 900 person-times of training for other GMS members, and the third session was already launched in July 2007. China has enthusiastically participated in the "Phnom Penh Program" and promoted domestic ability building through training. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has supported the "Phnom Penh Program" through the "China Poverty-Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund" managed by ADB. In addition, China has actively undertaken research and seminars about prevention and control of women and children trafficking and promotion of the safety of immigrants.

(IX) New Progresses in Trade and Investment Cooperation

China has been active in implementing The Action Framework for the GMS Strategy of Facilitation of Trade and Investment, and has formulated and begun to implement its own country action plan. For the customs sector, China has done active research in the "Single Window" mode and has started compiling the special operational manual for CBTA; for the inspection and quarantine sector, the country promoted united network verification of clearance declarations; for the trade and logistics sector, China has been advocating establishing a GMS logistics cooperation and coordination mechanism, and has made its domestic working plan for the GMS logistics cooperation program; and for traveling of business people, China has simplified its visa application procedure, has been publishing and updating the information about its visa policy, and has adopted some new policies such as the 12 entry-exit measures, of which one exempts Chinese citizens from filling in the entry-exit registration record and the other orders improve entry-exit inspection services.

Since 2005, China has cooperated with related international organizations in launching 19 activities in the trade and investment sector, including seminars, training classes and subject researches, which were directly participated by over 1000 people. Besides, starting from the Hekou Port (Yunnan) and the Friendship Pass (Guangxi), both being key ports in the south-north economic corridor, China has launched GMS customs clearance information services, providing multiple kinds of information to the public through computerized information searching service and exhibition of free information materials.

Moreover, the Chinese government attaches great importance to cooperation with international organizations and related countries in drug prohibition, and has taken a serious of policy measures. In 2006, the Chinese government introduced a special policy to increase its support to crop substitution outside the Chinese border. First, China has arranged special funds for overseas crop substitution to help Chinese enterprises in undertaking crop substitution and developing substitute industries in northern Myanmar and Laos. Second, China has enlarged the variety of products allowed to sell back into China, and has extended the valid period of their import quotas. Third, China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation has stipulated measures for providing insurance support to the enterprises engaging in overseas crop substitution. Fourth, China has provided aid to the government of Myanmar for implementing crop substitution programs in Kokang in northern Myanmar. Fifth, China has enacted flexible measures for personnel to undertake crop substitution work outside the country.

The Chinese government has signed cooperation agreements with Laos and Myanmar, and has energetically undertaken bilateral cooperation with them. In 2006, the Chinese government aided Laos to establish a drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation center with 600,000 dollars, and provided 600,000 yuan worth of drug addiction treatment medicine to the center; it has provided Myanmar with 20,000 tons of rice as an emergency aid to ensure that the tobacco farmers would not return to planting opium due to hard life. In 2007, the Chinese government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) jointly sponsored in Beijing the 7th ministerial meeting of the signatory countries of The MOU on Narcotic Drugs Control in the Subregion of East Asia. The ministerial-level officials in charge of drug prohibition from 6 countries, including China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, attended the meeting and adopted The 2007 MOU Beijing Declaration. China has also made many solid efforts in strengthening its cooperation with other GMS countries in law enforcement for drug prohibition. China has joined combined operations for many times and successfully cracked down on a number of major transnational cases of drug making and trafficking.

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