The assistance will be for a three-year period starting from 2016 and was one of the main pillars of the strategy agreement reached in a July 4 meeting between Japan and the five Mekong region nations-Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
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“Japan will commit about ¥750 billion in official development assistance over the next three years”, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a news conference attended by the leaders of the five countries that make up the area.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said he had high expectations for the strategy and that their foreign ministers would try to hammer out an action plan at a meeting next month.
Abe underlined the importance of regional stability in moving forward cooperation between Japan and Mekong states and said he welcomes these countries’ efforts toward democracy and rule of law.
“We highly value and look forward to Japan’s continued support for the position held by ASEAN countries”, Dung said in a written response to questions submitted by Japanese reporters ahead of his departure for Tokyo to participate in the 7th Mekong-Japan Summit to be held Saturday.
Japan hopes to distinguish its aid packages on infrastructure development in the resource-rich Mekong region from that of China by promoting advanced Japanese technology, and sharing environment-friendly know-how and capacity-building, Japanese officials said.
Beijing’s growing financial muscle, as well as its increasing willingness to throw its diplomatic weight around, have quickened the need for Japan to step up its engagement in the battle for regional sway.
Over maritime security, in an apparent warning against China’s land reclamation, the statement said, “Both sides noted concerns expressed over the recent development in the South China Sea, which will further complicate the situation and erode trust and confidence and may undermine regional peace, security and stability”.
Japanese government data show that, as of 2013, per capita gross domestic product was $2,073 in Vietnam, $1,628 in Laos, $1,103 in Myanmar and $1,018 in Cambodia, compared with $5,390 in Thailand.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in November at a summit in Myanmar that the China-Asean strategic partnership, having experienced a “golden decade” of development, was entering a “diamond decade leading to broader and deeper cooperation”. The average for ASEAN countries – also comprising Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore – is about $3,839.
Tokyo has its own spat with Beijing over islands in the East China Sea, but is increasingly vocal over China s ambitions to control nearly the whole of the South China Sea.
The Mekong-Japan Summit Meeting is held every year and this year’s is the seventh.
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The Thai PM discussed with the President of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) this morning, and had lunch with leaders from the GMS countries and members of the Mekong-Japan Parliamentary Friendship group.
