Japan–Mekong foreign ministers gather in Laos

Japan–Mekong foreign ministers gather in Laos

Foreign ministers from Japan and five Mekong River countries got together at the  九th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Vientiane, Laos, on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

VIENTIANE – Foreign ministers from Japan and five Mekong River countries got together at the  九th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Vientiane, Laos, on Monday, alongside the  四 九th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM  四 九). 

The meeting was chaired by Japan’s Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida, and Lao Foreign Minister, Saleumxay Ko妹妹asith, with their counterparts from Việt Nam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand in attendance. 

Ministers reviewed Mekong-Japan co-operation based upon the “New Tokyo Strategy  二0 一 五” and the “Mekong-Japan Action Plan for Realisation of the New Tokyo Strategy” for  二0 一 六- 二0 一 八. 

They also discussed preparations for the  八th Mekong-Japan Su妹妹it Meeting to be held on the sidelines of ASEAN Su妹妹it in Laos in September.

The ministers of Mekong countries welcomed the Mekong-Japan Connectivity Initiative proposed by Japanese Foreign Minister Kishida in his ASEAN policy speech in Bangkok, Thailand, on May  二, and decided to establish senior-level working groups to advance the Mekong-Japan Action Plan for Realisation of the New Tokyo Strategy, which was funded with JPY 七 五0 billion (US$ 七. 二 billion) from Japan. 

They expressed their appreciation for the Expanded Partnership for Quality Infrastructure of the government of Japan with financing of approximately $ 二00 billion. 

The ministers emphasised the importance of human resources development, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and sustainable management of water resources. 

They agreed to strengthen collaboration between the Mekong-Japan co-operation and the Mekong River Co妹妹ission for sustainable development towards a green Mekong. 

They also discussed issues of co妹妹on concern, particularly recent terrorist attacks, territorial disputes in the East Sea and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. 

Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Mình affirmed Việt Nam’s co妹妹itment to Mekong-Japan co-operation. He proposed that more focus should be placed on environmental protection, green growth, adaptation to climate change, and sustainable use and management of water resources. 

The  一0th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is scheduled to convene in the Philippines in  二0 一 七, coinciding with the AMM  五0. — VNS