Press Releases

1. The Fifth meeting of the Japan-China Policy Dialogue on the Mekong Region was convened in Beijing, China, on December 2. Attendees included Mr. Shigeki Takizaki, Deputy Director-General of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other officials concerned from the Japanese side; and Ms. Zhang Dan, Counsellor of the Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other officials from the Chinese side.

2. At this Meeting, both countries introduced their efforts with respect to cooperation toward the Mekong region after the last meeting, which took place in September 2011. Japan explained the latest results of the Japan-Mekong cooperation toward building the ASEAN Community in 2015, including the results of the Sixth Mekong-Japan Summit Meeting, which was held in November of this year. China explained the concrete measures that China is implementing under the framework of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program and also the directions of the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” that is under consideration.

3. Also, both sides shared the view on the importance of coordination between the countries concerned and with international institutions for the development of the Mekong region.

4. Both sides agreed to convene the Sixth Meeting in Japan next year, and to consult on the specific location and date of the meeting through diplomatic channels.