(17-01-2008)
TOKYO — Japan began a series of foreign ministerial talks yesterday in Tokyo with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam to strengthen Japan’s co-operation with the Mekong River region.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura is expected to pledge a total of 6 billion yen (US$ 56.6 million) in aid to the nations, excluding Myanmar, to fund various projects such as completing the construction of two east-west highways traversing the Indochinese Peninsula to facilitate business activity, government sources have said.
Ahead of the six-way Japan-Mekong foreign ministerial meeting in the evening, Komura held bilateral talks respectively with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, and Laotian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.
The Mekong ministers also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in the afternoon. Fukuda said at the outset, "Japan has always attached great importance to the Mekong region and we would like to work with you to develop the Mekong region’s potentials and make it a basin of hope and development."
In his meeting with Viet Nam’s Khiem, Komura urged more efforts to eradicate corruption to ensure execution of Japan’s official development assistance to Viet Nam. The two also agreed to work toward the early conclusion of a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement, the Japanese ministry said.
Separately, Komura welcomed the arrest of five former Khmer Rouge leaders for court trials and expressed hope to Hor Namhong that the Cambodian government will exercise its leadership amid financial concerns over prolonged trials. Komura also said Japan will dispatch observers to Cambodia’s National Assembly election in July.
Both the Vietnamese and Cambodian ministers reaffirmed their nations’ support for Japan’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, the ministry said.
At the Japan-Mekong meeting, the first such talks, the six ministers are expected to discuss topics in various fields including economic co-operation and cultural exchanges.
As part of its support for integration and narrowing the economic gaps among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan has been especially active in assisting the Mekong region, such as with public works projects.
Japan will also provide 2.2 billion yen to help Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam build schools and power generation facilities for the poor, the sources said.
In addition, 1.7 billion yen will be allocated to support Cambodia’s poverty-reduction efforts, they said.
Komura will hold bilateral talks with Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win and Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram separately today.
— KYODO/VNS
TOKYO — Japan began a series of foreign ministerial talks yesterday in Tokyo with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam to strengthen Japan’s co-operation with the Mekong River region.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura is expected to pledge a total of 6 billion yen (US$ 56.6 million) in aid to the nations, excluding Myanmar, to fund various projects such as completing the construction of two east-west highways traversing the Indochinese Peninsula to facilitate business activity, government sources have said.
Ahead of the six-way Japan-Mekong foreign ministerial meeting in the evening, Komura held bilateral talks respectively with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, and Laotian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.
The Mekong ministers also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in the afternoon. Fukuda said at the outset, "Japan has always attached great importance to the Mekong region and we would like to work with you to develop the Mekong region’s potentials and make it a basin of hope and development."
In his meeting with Viet Nam’s Khiem, Komura urged more efforts to eradicate corruption to ensure execution of Japan’s official development assistance to Viet Nam. The two also agreed to work toward the early conclusion of a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement, the Japanese ministry said.
Separately, Komura welcomed the arrest of five former Khmer Rouge leaders for court trials and expressed hope to Hor Namhong that the Cambodian government will exercise its leadership amid financial concerns over prolonged trials. Komura also said Japan will dispatch observers to Cambodia’s National Assembly election in July.
Both the Vietnamese and Cambodian ministers reaffirmed their nations’ support for Japan’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, the ministry said.
At the Japan-Mekong meeting, the first such talks, the six ministers are expected to discuss topics in various fields including economic co-operation and cultural exchanges.
As part of its support for integration and narrowing the economic gaps among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan has been especially active in assisting the Mekong region, such as with public works projects.
Japan will also provide 2.2 billion yen to help Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam build schools and power generation facilities for the poor, the sources said.
In addition, 1.7 billion yen will be allocated to support Cambodia’s poverty-reduction efforts, they said.
Komura will hold bilateral talks with Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win and Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram separately today.
— KYODO/VNS
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