Leaders of the six nations of the Mekong River region have agreed on a new decade-long development plan to boost growth and development, and to reduce poverty.

In a joint declaration issued at the conclusion of the fourth meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion summit, the leaders endorsed a range of new measures to strengthen regional cooperation. Among them are policies to more effectively utilize resources and more carefully balance development with environmental concerns.

The GMS includes China, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam.

Since starting in 1992, the Greater Mekong Subregion has experienced a nearly eight percent rate of economic growth across the subregion.

The group's efforts are coordinated by the Asian Development Bank.