"Mekong-Japan Symposium on Ancient Capitals"

June 24, 2010
Japanese

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the “Mekong-Japan Symposium on Ancient Capitals” in Nara City, Japan, on June 22 (Tue).

People who are engaged in the protection of ancient capitals and cultural heritages in Japan and the five Mekong region countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam) attended the Symposium as panelists (*note). They actively exchanged views on the importance of the protection of cultural heritages and specific projects undertaken in Japan and the Mekong region countries, as well as on ways to utilize the cultural heritages as tourism resources and assets for further economic development in the Mekong region countries. Mr. Osamu Fujimura, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Shogo Arai, Governor of Nara Prefecture, as well as 49 youths related to the protection of cultural heritages and tourism development in the Mekong region countries, who are visiting Japan under the “Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS)” Program, also attended the Symposium. The JENESYS participants actively asked questions concerning issues such as the protection of cultural heritages and tourism development with the participation of local residents.

*Note
The panelists were as follows:
Cambodia: Mr. Sou Phirin, Governor of Siem Reap Province
Laos: Mr. Sombath Yialiher, Mayor of Vientiane Capital
Myanmar: Mr. Kyaw Oo Lwin, Director-General, Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library
Thailand: Mr. Withaya Pewpong, Governor of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province
Viet Nam: Prof. Nguyen Van Son, Director of the Center for Preservation of Co Loa Citadel
Japan: Prof. Kunikazu Ueno, Professor Emeritus of Nara Women’s University
Prof. Yoshifumi Muneta, Associate Professor of Kyoto Prefectural University
Prof. Eiichi Kato, Professor, Department of Tourism, School of Tourism, Tokai University
Mr. Takanobu Hirono, Director General, Culture and Tourism Bureau, Nara Prefectural Government

The results of the Symposium will be reported to the Japan-Mekong Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Meeting between the Heads of Government of Japan and the Mekong Region Countries scheduled to be held in the future, and will be utilized as a basis for discussions on ways of Mekong-Japan cooperation in the field of protection of cultural heritages and promotion of tourism.

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