Manila (VNA) – Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc led a Vietnamese delegation to the 9th Mekong-Japan Summit andthe 9th ASEAN-UN Summit that took place in Manila, the Philippines, on November13.

The 9th Mekong-Japan Summit drew leaders ofCambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan.

They recognised achievements in the realisationof the Tokyo Strategy 2015, including the implementation of the Mekong-JapanAction Plan for Realisation of the Tokyo Strategy 2015, the Japan-MekongConnectivity Initiative, and the Mekong Industrial Development Vision.

The Mekong countries appreciated Japan’sassistance for the Greater Mekong Sub-region’s cooperation. They also laudedJapan’s commitment to implementing the partnership for sustainableinfrastructure and the initiative for industrial human resources developmentcooperation.

The leaders agreed to continue enhancingeconomic and industrial cooperation between Japan and the Mekong countries andincreasing coordination between Mekong-Japan cooperation with regional andinternational organisations such as the Asian Development Bank, the ASEAN-JapanCentre, and the Mekong River Commission.

Japan will support Mekong countries to achievegreen growth and carry out flood and drought response projects. The two sidesalso reiterated the importance of managing and sustainably using the MekongRiver’s water resources and protecting the river’s environment.

At the summit, the leaders also discussedinternational and regional issues of shared concern. They stressed the need toenhance the Mekong nations’ law enforcement with the help of Japan, includingthrough improving the capacity of enforcing law at sea and fighting terrorism,and boosting cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Japan and theMekong countries.

PM Phuc said Mekong-Japan cooperation has provedincreasingly effective, affirming its role in the region and bringing aboutbenefits for people. He also acknowledged Japan’s assistance for the Mekongregion in general and Vietnam in particular.

[🐈Vietnam values partners’ commitments to ASEAN: PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc]

In the future, bilateral cooperation shouldfocus on helping Mekong countries develop advanced industry and agriculture,improve human resources quality and research and development capacity, buildhigh-quality infrastructure, and step up regional connectivity, includingthrough transnational roads and the logistics system. 

He added that Japan should also help its Mekong partners geartheir development towards green, clean and sustainable models, protect theMekong River’s environment, and sustainably use the river’s water.

At the end of the summit, the leaders issued ajoint statement and agreed to organise the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit in Japan.

At the 9th ASEAN-UN Summit, leaders of the 10ASEAN nations and the UN valued the outcomes of bilateral cooperation,particularly in carrying out the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-UN ComprehensivePartnership for 2016-2020, promoting common efforts to develop infrastructurein the region, promoting public-private partnership capacity, developingmicro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and boosting ASEAN’s resilience incoping with climate change and natural disasters.

The summit agreed to continue fostering theimplementation of the ASEAN-UN plan of action for 2016-2020 and combining theUN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the ASEAN Community Vision 2025with priority given to peacekeeping, fighting trans-national crime, realisingthe Sustainable Development Goals, dealing with climate change, protecting theenvironment, and reducing poverty.

The leaders welcomed the UN General Assembly’sresolution commemorating ASEAN’s 50th founding anniversary, the UN’s firstresolution marking the anniversary of a regional organisation.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged tointensify ASEAN-UN ties through assisting the bloc to realise the ASEANCommunity Vision 2025 and the goals of the 2030 Agenda.

In his speech, PM Phuc hailed the UN GeneralAssembly’s adoption of a resolution commemorating ASEAN’s anniversary. He askedboth sides increase consultation to promote ASEAN-UN cooperation programmes onsustainable development and social welfare improvement. They also need tosupport each other in coping with regional and global challenges such asclimate change and natural disasters and promoting multilateralism andinternational law.-VNA