BANGKOK, Nov. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The foreign ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam have discussed strengthening the five nations' economic cooperation ahead of a regional summit to open here on Thursday.

    The second Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held amid tight security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok.

    Among the key areas for discussion were trade and investment; contract farming projects; the reduction of regional economic disparities; and a possible ACMECS single visa to promote tourism.

    The provision of Thai Government scholarships and the development of improved regional transport links were also on the agenda of the talks.

    The outcome of the meeting will be presented to the second ACMECS summit on Thursday.

    Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the heads of government of the other four ACMECS countries -- Myanmar's GeneralSoe Win; Vietnam's Pham Van Khai; Bounnhang Vorachit of Laos; and Cambodian leader Hun Sen -- will be attending the one-day meeting.

    High on the summit agenda will be regional efforts to contain the bird flu epidemic.

    Thaksin said earlier that Thailand, as a member of the United Nations, would share international responsibility for the health problems which might otherwise plague the ACMECS community.

    The Thai prime minister also warned of the dangers posed by thedevelopment of a strain of bird flu that could move easily from human to human.

    The Declaration on Partnership in Combating Avian Influenza andother Infectious Disease will be adopted at the end of the summit.

    Besides bird flu, the leaders will also discuss the introduction of a single-visa system to cover the five countries.

    ACMECS was founded in April 2003 as a cooperative response of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to combating Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

    The First ACMECS Summit was held in November 2003 in Bagan, Myanmar. It produced the Bagan Declaration and Plan of Action, theimplementation of which will also be discussed at the second summit hosted by Thailand. Enditem