The Third Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting
(Summary)

Hanoi, Vietnam, 21 July 2010

1. The Third Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 7pm to 8pm on 21 July 2010. Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Pham Gia Khiem, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Mr. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr. Alounkeo Kittikhoun, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mr. Nyan Win, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar and Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand attended the Meeting. Chairman's Statement was issued after the Meeting.
2. Mekong-Japan Cooperation
   
   (1) Minister Okada explained the progress of the Mekong-Japan Cooperation made thus far, particularly Japan's efforts, made as a follow-up of "Tokyo Declaration" and "Mekong-Japan Action Plan 63," which were agreed at the First Mekong-Japan Summit Meeting in November 2009. Minister Okada also explained a concrete concept of "A Decade toward the Green Mekong" Initiative (Concept Paper [PDF]/Measures in each field [PDF]), which was mentioned in "Tokyo Declaration."
   
   (2) The following are the remarks made by Ministers of the Mekong region countries, in regard to the progress and the future direction of the Mekong-Japan Cooperation:
   • a) The Ministers highly appreciated Japan's initiatives on Mekong-Japan Cooperation, taken thus far, including the holding of the First Mekong-Japan Summit Meeting in November 2009 and Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009,
   • b) the Ministers expressed appreciation to Japan's assistance toward the Mekong region,
   • c) in regard to the improvement of ASEAN connectivity, the Ministers strongly expected Japan's cooperation, in the context of Mekong-Japan Cooperation as well, and
   • d) the Ministers agreed to the concept of "A Decade toward the Green Mekong," explained by Minister Okada. They expressed a view that the economic development compatible with the efforts on environment and climate change is crucial. They appreciated Japan's initiative in this area and showed their willingness to continue to reinforce cooperation.
3. Regional and International Issues
   
   The Ministers discussed Korean Peninsula, Myanmar and the UN Security Council reform. In regard to the UN Security Council reform, Minister Okada stressed the necessity to move firmly forward on the Security Council reform and mentioned that Japan wishes to promote further cooperation between Japan and the Mekong region countries toward the reform. The Ministers of the Mekong region countries emphasized the necessity of the Security Council reform as well as the importance of expansion of both its permanent and non-permanent membership. Furthermore, the Ministers expressed their support for Japan to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.