Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam discuss trade deal

Representatives from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia gathered Monday in Vietnam's Central Highlands Dak Lak province to discuss an agreement on trade promotion.

During the fourth round of negotiation on an agreement to promote and facilitate trade in Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) Development Triangle Area, which opened Monday in Dak Lak and is set to last till Wednesday, trade representatives from the three countries discussed measures to resolve remaining difficulties and obstacles to soon reach consensus and finalize the agreement.

The CLV Development Triangle Area covers four Cambodian provinces (Ratanakiri, Stung Treng, Mondulkiri, Kratie), four Lao provinces (Attapeu, Salavan, Sekong, Champasak), and five Vietnamese provinces (Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Binh Phuoc).

Officials from the three countries expressed their hope that the agreement will allow relevant localities to make full use of their potential and advantages as well as promote economic cooperation and investment in the development triangle in particular and the three countries in general, according to Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA.

The agreement is expected to boost trade activities and commodity flows among 13 localities in the development triangle of the three countries, reported VNA.

The first negotiation round of the agreement was held in 2015.