Renewed schemes for the region's three great rivers -- under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (Acmecs) -- are making a comeback after some soul-searching amid a plethora of connectivity plans. Bangkok will host the 8th Acmecs summit this Friday and Saturday.
The Acmecs is a cooperation framework aiming to reduce the economic gap and promoting development cooperation among Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam as well as improving their river-related livelihoods.
It is the only sub-regional organisation that incorporates the three rivers into one strategic scheme affecting 220 million people. It could serve as a model for South-South Cooperation as well as strengthening the community-building in Asean.
