"The World and Japan" Database (Project Leader: TANAKA Akihiko)
Database of Japanese Politics and International Relations
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS); Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (IASA), The University of Tokyo

[Title] Chair's Statement of the Sixth Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting

[Place]
[Date] June 30, 2013
[Source] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
[Notes]
[Full text]

1. The Sixth Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, on 30 June 2013 back-to-back with the 46th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and participated by H.E. Mr. HOR Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia; H.E. Mr. Alounkeo Kittikhoun, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic; H.E. Mr. Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; H.E. Dr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand; and H.E. Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

2. The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of development of the Mekong region for enhancing connectivity and narrowing development gaps in ASEAN, towards the goal of building the ASEAN Community by 2015. The Ministers exchanged views on various issues of the changing environment in Asia and confirmed to strengthen Mekong-Japan cooperation.

3. The Ministers reviewed progress of the Mekong-Japan cooperation based on the "Tokyo Strategy 2012" adopted at the 4th Mekong-Japan Summit held in April 2012 and the "Mekong-Japan Action Plan for Realization of the Tokyo Strategy 2012" adopted at the 5th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in July 2012, and reaffirmed their determination to further strengthen the Mekong-Japan cooperation toward 2015. The Ministers asked the Economic Ministers to review relevant parts of the "Action Plan" in the 5th Mekong-Japan Economic Ministers' Meeting to be held in August 2013 and report the outcomes to the 5th Mekong-Japan Summit. In addition, the Ministers highlighted the necessity of the medium- and long-term economic growth strategy of the Mekong region toward 2015 and beyond.

4. The Ministers welcomed the outcome of the 3rd Mekong-Japan Meeting of the Forum for the Promotion of Public-Private Cooperation in the Mekong Region held in Tokyo, 19 February, 2013, and noted the Chair's Summary of the meeting. The Ministers confirmed that the 4th Mekong-Japan Meeting of the Forum for the Promotion of Public-Private Cooperation in the Mekong Region would be held in Tokyo in 2014.

5. The Ministers appreciated Japan and Thailand for co-hosting the 2nd Green Mekong Forum in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2013 where the topic of discussion includes environmental issues of common concern. The Mekong Ministers invited Japan to share experience in preventive measures to tackle the environmental challenges.

6. The Ministers appreciated Japan's confirmation that the 5th Mekong-Japan Summit would be held in Tokyo in December 2013. The Ministers exchanged views on expansion of people to people exchange and enhancement of economic relations including investment promotion in the Mekong region between Japan and the Mekong countries, and instructed Senior Officials of both Japan and the Mekong countries to examine concrete contents of a new initiative on these areas, which will be launched at the 5th Mekong-Japan Summit.

7. The Ministers welcomed the increase of Mekong countries' tourists visiting Japan and the decision of issuing ACMECS Single Visa by governments of Thailand and Cambodia. In this regard, Ministers reached the consensus to further make efforts in easing issuing visas for promotion of people to people exchange between Japan and the Mekong countries.

8. H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan recognized with gratitude leaders' appreciation for Japan's cooperation expressed at the 6th CLMV Summit and the 7th CLV Summit held in Vientiane on March 2013.

9. The Ministers looked forward to convening the 7th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in 2014 back to back with the 47th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting.