Speaking at the forum “CLMVT: New force of Asia” hosted by Nation TV on Thursday, Somkid said the Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand must have closer economic and political relationships to strengthen the grouping’s role in the region.

He said CLMVT nations should be a bridge between Asean and China, India, Japan, South Korea, Europe and the US.

He said the average annual economic growth of CLMV nations was high at 6-8 per cent while China’s economy grew at 6.5-6.8 per cent annually.

He also said global geopolitics had been disrupted since Donald Trump became US president and that had created uncertainty, which affected Asean solidarity.

“Should the 10 Asean countries not be able to stay together, each may be forced to choose a side – China or the US. That is not good for the region as we need to work with every party,” he said.

Somkid urged CLMVT countries to ink bilateral agreements in border trade, tourism, logistics, investment and human resource development.