Vietnam’s role in Mekong - Japan Cooperation appreciated

Friday, 05/10/2018 21:21
Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong talks with the press about the development of the Mekong - Japan cooperation mechanism and Vietnam’s contribution to it.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong (Photo: VNA)
He granted an interview with the press ahead of the trip to Japan by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, his spouse and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, to attend the 10th Mekong - Japan Summit Meeting, visiting from October 7th-10th.

According to the ambassador, over the past 10 years, Mekong - Japan Cooperation has gained important results in prioritized pillars, including “soft” efforts, “hard” efforts and sustainable development.

Through the mechanism, Mekong countries and Japan have worked together to build infrastructure, international airports and seaports, contributing to establishing infrastructure linking the Mekong Sub-region, the East-West Corridor and South Corridor.

In “soft” infrastructure, the Mekong-Japan cooperation has facilitated the transport of goods among countries in the Mekong region by linking the goods transport system, facilitating customs clearance, reducing customs clearance costs and time, and training human resources.

In sustainable development, Japan is one of the few partners who have maintained long-term continuous cooperation and support for the Mekong River Commission.

Both the Government of Japan and the Governments of the Mekong countries attach importance to the Mekong-Japan cooperation mechanism. In the 2015 Tokyo Strategic Program for the period 2016-2018, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to donate about USD7 billion to the Mekong-Japan Cooperation.

Talking about Vietnam’s role and contributions to Mekong-Japan Cooperation, Ambassador Cuong said that Vietnam had participated in this cooperation mechanism from the beginning and always expressed its active role, contributing to the development of Mekong-Japan Cooperation in each period. Vietnam is currently developing a plan for the next three years from 2019 to 2021.

Vietnam has included programs such as the Green Mekong Forum, cooperation programs in environment, clean water and natural disaster prevention, into the Mekong-Japan Cooperation. In addition, Vietnam has put forth programs on effective management and exploitation of Mekong River water.

Vietnamese ministries and agencies have participated in about 100 different projects in the Mekong-Japan Cooperation, including Lach Huyen deep water port, T2 Terminal of the Noi Bai International Airport, O Mon and Nghi Son 2 thermal power plant, which are important projects for Vietnam's infrastructure. Through the Mekong-Japan Cooperation, Vietnam has developed and operated an electronic clearance system, producing measles and rubella vaccines.

Vietnam has always emphasized the role of the Mekong countries, the policy coordination among the Mekong countries in the Mekong-Japan Cooperation mechanism, showing its positive, active and responsible role with other countries in the region. Japan highly appreciated Vietnam's role in Mekong - Japan Cooperation.

During the visit to Japan by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Vietnamese high-level delegation, apart from their participation in the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit, the Vietnamese delegation members will have bilateral meetings with Japanese sides to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries, Ambassador Cuong said.

As planned, the two Vietnamese and Japanese Prime Ministers will hold talks to discuss bilateral cooperation as well as international cooperation. In addition, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has meetings with many senior leaders of Japan to promote cooperation in many different fields.

During the visit, Vietnam will hold an investment forum in Japan, expecting to welcome 1,000 businesses’ representatives, which shows Vietnam's respect for the Vietnam - Japan strategic partnership, especially in economics, trade and investment./.

Compiled by BTA

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