Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (second from left) and other foreign ministers at the 12th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bangkok on August 3

Addressing the 12th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’Meeting, held in Bangkok, Thailand, onAugust 3 within the framework of the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’Meeting, Minh proposed several aspects that the Japan-Mekong cooperation shouldfocus on, including supporting Mekong countries in responding to climate change,managing and using Mekong River sources sustainably, developing smartagriculture, improving infrastructure, and developing human resources workingin industry, agriculture and digital technology.

At the event, foreign ministers of Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos,Myanmar and Vietnam agreed that the Mekong-Japan cooperation has contributedsignificantly to development and prosperity in the region.

They discussed the implementation of the Tokyo Strategy, theorganisation of the Mekong-Japan exchange year in 2019, and cooperationorientations in the time ahead.

Mekong countries highly value Japan’s assistance in fostering regionalconnectivity.

The ministers agreed to strengthen connectivity collaboration,while stressing the importance of promoting economic development in tandem with protectingthe environment, reducing disaster risks, adapting to climate change, andmanaging and using Mekong River sources sustainably.

They emphasised the need to intensify cooperation with the MekongRiver Commission so as to realise the “A Decade Toward the Green Mekong”Initiative and the Mekong-Japan Initiative of Sustainable Development GoalsToward 2030.

The ministers also welcomed the initiative by Japan and the US toestablish the Japan-US-Mekong Power Partnership (JUMPP) to support Mekongcountries’ development and ensure sustainable energy security.

Participants also exchanged views on regional and internationalissues, including the Korean Peninsula and East Sea issues.

The meeting approved the co-Chair’s Declaration and agreed toorganise the 13th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Japanin 2020.-VNA