Seoul is hosting the Mekong region's first foreign ministers' meeting as trade between the Asian countries hit $25 billion dollars last year.
South Korea's Kim Sung-hwan welcomed foreign and deputy foreign ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Kim said the meeting would build on existing bi-lateral cooperation and the regional group ASEAN.
(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) SOUTH KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTER KIM SUNG-HWAN SAYING:
"We are creating a new layer of sub-regional cooperation. The Mekong region is blessed with abundant natural resources and labour force. Furthermore the rapid economic development that this region has achieved in recent years shows how it can turn such growth potential into reality."
With abundant natural resources, the region has huge growth potential and is drawing growing interest from the international community.
Lily Grimes, Reuters
