by Reinhard Hohler

According to media sources from Phnom Penh on Friday, parliaments of Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam have signed an approval for the three
countries to jointly develop a triangle area, which  officially is already called the “Development Triangle.” Citing the joint statement, the agreement allows of having a joint-controlled border point as well as setting up of a web-site with English language as an international language and the three nations’ national languages.

The joint statement was released on Friday after the two-day parliaments meeting, which kicked off on July 7 in Cambodia’s Kratie Province. The meeting also discussed the roles of parliaments, on how to help promote the development triangle plan among the three countries. The development triangle area covers four provinces in Cambodia: Ratanakhiri, Stung Treng, Mondulkhiri and Kratie, with three provinces in Lao PDR and four provinces in Viet Nam.

It is the annual meeting and Viet Nam hosted the meeting last year. In 2002, leaders of the three countries agreed to boost for economic benefit,
promoting tourism, exchanging culture, as well as to co-operate in social order, security and to reduce poverty.