Mekong countries, Japan prepare for foreign ministers meeting

Senior officials from countries in the Mekong subregion and Japan met on June 10 to discuss the drafts of documents to be adopted at the upcoming 13th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers Meeting.
Acting Director General of the Economic Affairs Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kingphokeo Phommahaxay, led the Lao delegation taking part in the meeting via video link.

Deputy Director General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr Kenichi Kobayashi, and Assistant Minister and Director General of the Economic Affairs Department of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Nguyen Van Thao, co-chaired the meeting.
Participants reviewed past cooperation and discussed logistics and the preparation of content for the upcoming ministers’ meeting, which Japan will host in Tokyo next month.
Officials also discussed drafts of the Joint Statement of the 13th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers Meeting, and Mekong-Japan Cooperation for achieving universal health coverage and integral strengthening of economic relations.
Mekong-Japan Cooperation was established by Japan and the five Mekong countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam in 2009 at the first summit held in Tokyo.
The cooperation aims to enhance the Japan-Mekong regional partnership, sustain economic growth in the Mekong region, improve the livelihoods of  the people in the Mekong region, and work towards fulfillment of their potential.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update June 15, 2020)