Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reassured Japan’s commitment to finance infrastructure development projects and help fight COVID-19 in Mekong countries. 

Foreign ministers from Mekong countries and Japan attend the Mekong-Japan
Ministerial Meeting held digitally on August 6, 2021

Addressing the Mekong-Japan Ministerial Meeting held virtually on Friday, Motegi said Japan is stepping up implementation of infrastructure projects worth US$9 billion in the Mekong region.

The Northeast Asian country is also accelerating provision of 5.6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, 700 oxygen generators and US$6.8 million the Mekong countries, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Foreign ministers from Mekong countries appreciated Japan’s support, especially in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and acknowledged the outcomes in the implementation of the Tokyo Strategy 2018 for Mekong-Japan Cooperation, Mekong Industrial Development Vision 2.0, and Mekong-Japan Initiative for sustainable development goals toward 2030.

Given the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministers underlined the need to further strengthen coordination in pandemic containment and economic recovery.

The meeting agreed to promote cooperation in research, development, production and distribution of vaccines, ensure timely and effective access to vaccines.

The ministers agreed to foster regional connectivity, trade and investment and diversify supply chains, enhance resilience to climate change as well as sustainable use and management of Mekong water resources, and push forward green growth, digital transformation, and innovation./.