CCTV News: Japan offers $6.1 billion in aid to Mekong countries

The Japanese PM said he would consider Viet Nam’s request on maintaining and increasing its support of climate change response, economic governance and competitiveness enhancement programmes.

The fresh aid was announced at the conclusion of a summit meeting in Tokyo between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Mekong region leaders. It acted as a platform for both sides to discuss development and business prospects in the region.

“The plan will be the foundation for further boosting the cooperative relations between Mekong countries and Japan“, Laotian Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong said.

Tokyo: Japan and five countries bordering the South China Sea pledged to uphold freedom of navigation and overflight amid rising tensions over China’s build-up of reefs in disputed waters.

Flanked by the two major powers of China and India, the Mekong region is situated in an area of high strategic importance for land and maritime traffic in the vicinity of the South China Sea.

PM Dung lauded Japan’s contributions to the success of the seventh Mekong-Japan Summit with the approval of the new Tokyo Strategy.

It is vital to carry out a form of “Japanese-style development assistance” that is carefully designed to help each country in the Mekong region achieve sustainable growth through autonomous means.

“I’m convinced the signing of a memorandum of intent on the Dawei Special Economic Zone will create an opportunity to strengthen the economic partnership between Japan and Asean and Japan and Thailand ahead of the launch of the Asean Economic Community”, Mr Abe said in a joint news conference with Gen Prayut after their meeting.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Tadamori Oshima mentioned the Friendship Parliamentary Alliances with each Mekong country and the Japan – Mekong Parliamentary Friendship Association founded this April, which are tasked with facilitating exchanges between legislatures.

China has been using its financial muscle to provide assistance for infrastructure construction in the Mekong region in recent years.

Oshima vowed to do his best to promote co-operation between the Mekong and Japan, and between Viet Nam and Japan in particular. In addition to the group summit, Abe held separate bilateral talks with the Mekong leaders.

The leaders shared their deep concern over recent developments in the East Sea, especially the large-scale construction of islands.

Akihiko said the recently-inaugurated terminal at the Noi Bai worldwide Airport facilities and the Nhat Tan Bridge were examples of effective collaboration between Viet Nam and Japan. He also highlighted recent developments in the East Sea.

Abe’s announcement is part of an investment initiative for the Asian region that the Japanese government unveiled in May.

The first function was organized in late 2013 with executives from 11 Japanese companies.

Viet Nam is focusing on completing market mechanisms and developing human resources and infrastructure.

The average for Asean countries – also comprising Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore – is about US$3,839.

In the 2015 Tokyo Strategy, the leaders emphasised the importance of maritime security and safety. Japan is now Viet Nam’s third largest trade partner with trade expected to near $30 billion this year, and its biggest investor with $38 billion to be poured into Viet Nam in 2015.

The same day, PM Dung and his delegation left Tokyo, concluding their working visit to Japan.