HANOI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The 3rd Summit of Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) opened in Hanoi on Friday, drawing leaders from five southeastern Asian countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

    Government heads from the five countries all attended the summit, including Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein, Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

    The summit is themed in "Deepening Cooperation Towards A More Effective And Dynamic ACMECS."

    Leaders will discuss regional cooperation and solutions to improve efficiency in implementing cooperation agreements reached at previous summits.

    ACMECS framework was established in 2003. It is a project-based framework which covers seven areas of cooperation, including trade and investment facilitation, agriculture, industry and energy cooperation, transport linkages, tourism cooperation, human resources development and public health.

    ACMECS aims at reducing development gap among member countries and enhancing sustainable development in the region. The initiative features that member countries help each other, depend on one another's strengths and rely on their own resources.