Japan's Cooperation for the Mekong Subregion Development

November 2001
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan

Overview

Japan considers the Mekong subregion development a significant initiative to help bridge the development gap between old and new members of the ASEAN and thereby contribute to its closer integration. Japan has been active in taking initiatives to maintain and strengthen momentum for the development of this subregion.

Japan's Future Cooperation

In July 2001, Japan dispatched a consultation mission to riparian countries jointly with the ADB. Taking the findings of the mission into account, Japan has decided to give high priority to the following two cooperation programs:

(1) "East-West Economic Corridor"
With the signing of the Exchange of Notes for the Second International Mekong Bridge in September, the "East-West Corridor" is well on the way to completion as physical infrastructure. Now, greater effort should be made at enhancing it into an "Economic Corridor," i.e. effectively utilizing the "corridor" to facilitate economic growth and poverty reduction in the surrounding area.

(2) "Second East-West Corridor"
Japan's another priority for cooperation will be development of a trunk road from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok via Phnom Penh, which is also identified as a principal route in the "Asian Highway" network. Japan intends to promote this road as the "Second East-West Corridor" in collaboration with the ADB.

Japan strongly hopes that these two "corridors" connecting the Eastern and Western parts of Indochina will lead to accelerated as well as balanced development of the subregion.

Actions to date

(1) To hold international conferences and organizing subregional seminars and workshops (Forum for the Comprehensive Development of Indo-China Ministerial Conference in 1995, Symposium on the Comprehensive Development of the Greater Mekong Subregion in 1999, etc.).

(2) To implement concrete projects for the subregional development. These projects, now amounting to a significant number, not only cover physical infrastructure (transport, energy, telecommunications, etc.), but also address "software" aspects of development (development studies, HRD programs, etc.). The following are some major "Mekong Subregional Projects" that Japan has assisted or is committed to assist:

Coordination among Various Initiatives

There are many organizations and forums concerning the Mekong subregion development. Japan takes the position that the principle of effectiveness and efficiency requires improved coordination among similar initiatives and activities, thus avoiding duplication of efforts and rather seeking complementality and synergy effects among them. In this respect, Japan believes it useful to make the best use of the ADB-GMS Program, given its past achievements in the development of the Mekong subregion.

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