'No plan for expansion'

By Amit Baruah

HANOI, JULY 28. There are no immediate plans to expand the membership of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) grouping.

Though China informally expressed its interest to India in associating itself with the MGC here, the issue did not come up for discussion at the Second MGC Ministerial Meeting today.

The Chinese interest in joining the MGC was not surprising given the fact that it had close relations with five of the Mekong countries (Myanmar, Laos. Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand) which form part of the grouping, floated last year in Vientiane.

The Myanmar Foreign Minister, U Win Aung, was the only one to mention the membership issue in his remarks at the MGC meeting - and he, too, did not refer to any country by name.

Sources told The Hindu that U Win Aung said there was need for the MGC to consolidate itself as an organisation before thinking in terms of expansion. The MGC itself is in a formative state, with members looking for funds from international financial institutions to fund some of the road-rail links between India and the Mekong countries.

In his statement at the meeting today, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr. K.C. Pant, said India would seriously examine the Trilateral Agreement on the Facilitation of Cross- border Movement of Goods and People between Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam.

``Cambodia is to accede to this agreement shortly, it remains for India and Myanmar, within the MGC, to facilitate the cross-border movement of goods and people. Efficient road linkages will immediately help boost tourism, strengthen cultural links, and yield economic benefits,'' he said.

MGC comprises a well-defined, sub-regional grouping that can be connnected by transport links.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Hanoi programme of action adopted
Next     : They are not shell-shocked, the bands are still
           playing