The Third Meeting of the Japan-China Policy Dialogue on the Mekong Region

April 16, 2010
Japanese

The Third Meeting of the Japan-China Policy Dialogue on the Mekong Region (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam) was convened in Jinghong City, Yunnan Province, People’s Republic of China on April 16 (Fri). Attendees included Mr. Kimihiro Ishikane, Deputy Director-General of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other officials concerned from the Japanese side; and Mr. Lu Kang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other officials from the Chinese side.
At this Meeting, both countries introduced their efforts with respect to cooperation toward the Mekong region after the last Meeting, which took place in June 2009. Japan announced the results and status of follow-up actions regarding the First Meeting between the Heads of Governments of Japan and Mekong region countries, which was held in November 2009. China announced the concrete measures that it has implemented in such fields as infrastructure and agriculture under the framework of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
At the meeting, the participants held an exchange of views regarding the possibility of Japan-China cooperation in the Mekong region. Both countries shared the view that there should be an exchange of views held on various levels relating to the future direction of concrete cooperation in fields such as overall aid policy, environmental conservation, public health and human resource development.
Both sides agreed to convene the Fourth Meeting in Japan next year, and to decide the specific location and date through diplomatic channels.
Taking the opportunity of this Meeting, Deputy Director-General Ishikane and other officials paid a courtesy call on Mr. Li Jianghong, Vice-Governor of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, on April 15.

(Reference)
The First Meeting of the Japan-China Policy Dialogue on the Mekong Region was convened in Beijing on April 25, 2008, and the second meeting was convened in Tokyo on June 11, 2009. At these two past meetings, the participants exchanged views on the current situation of the Mekong region and shared information on their respective policies toward the region. The two governments shared the view that reciprocal relations among Japan, China and the Mekong region should be built in order to promote development and stability of the region.

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