India for expanding cooperation among Mekong Ganga countries

“It is in pursuance of this aim that we have proposed to add newer areas of cooperation to the traditiol areas on tourism, culture, education, transport and communication,” Singh said.  “I am happy to note that we are progressing well in the identified areas of cooperation and in the implementation of the Plan of Action 2016-18.”  Established in 2000 in Vientiane, Laos, the MGC comprises six member countries through which the Ganga and Mekong rivers flow - India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietm. Singh also said that India was examining the digital connectivity proposals that have been given by Laos and Cambodia for implementation by utilizing $1-billion line of credit extended by India. 

He said that after the successful organisation of the Intertiol Buddhist Conclave in Varasi in October last year where all the MGC countries attended as special guests, India has proposed to make this an annual activity.  “We look forward to closely working with Myanmar for developing the ‘Buddhist Trail’ and desigte points of contact for enhancing tourism cooperation among MGC countries,” he stated. In terms of connectivity among the MGC countries, Singh said that “we have shared the concept notes on formation of task forces on maritime connectivity and extension of (India-Myanmar-Thailand) trilateral highway into Cambodia, Laos and Vietm”.  “The eight-member Indian component to the task force on maritime connectivity has also been announced. We now await nomitions from Asean (Association of Southeast Asian tions) member states,” he stated.

For mapping the shared civilizatiol linkages of India and the other MGC member countries, Singh said that two projects have been commissioned. While the first, called “Sailing to Swar Bhumi”, will chart and research the maritime encounters as reflected in the syncretic cultures of India and Southeast Asia, the second, called “Mapping of Inscriptions along the Mekong” will document inscriptions left by Indian nobles and traders along the Mekong river, which was the main artery of cultural interaction between India and mainland southeast Asia for many centuries. Singh said that the landa University in India was “well underway on its path towards becoming a leading academic institution focusing on Asian history and Mekong Ganga region”.  “We also look forward to the support of all MGC countries towards creation of the Common Archival Resource Centre at landa University,” he stated.

He also invited all the MGC countries to utilise 50 new Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scholarships announced in the areas of culture, tourism, engineering, film directing, sound, lighting and stage magement. These are in addition to the 900 scholarships given every year to MGC countries. (IANS)