The Japan-Mekong cooperation is necessary to the Mekong sub-region’s socio-economic development and the ASEAN integration process, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said at the 7th Mekong-Japan Summit held in Tokyo, Japan, on July 4.

The Prime Minister expressed his concurrence with other leaders’ views showed in the 2015 Tokyo Strategy on Mekong-Japan cooperation, which guides affiliation towards ensuring regional stability and qualitative growth.

According to the Vietnamese leader, there are three major points that will help the state members realise their robust growth targets, including solid economic foundation, the balance between economic gains and environmental protection, and a peaceful environment and stability for development.

He highlighted recent developments in the East Sea with large-scale construction of artificial reef islands that violates international law, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), reduces mutual trust and raises tension across the region.

He stated the maintenance of maritime security and safety and freedom of navigation in the waters is the aspiration, benefit and responsibility shared by related nations regionally and internationally.

The parties involved should sustain peace and stability in line with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), noted Dung.

He went on to say that the sides ought to fully carry out commitments in the DOC and work toward the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

At the summit, leaders of Japan and the five Mekong countries, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, reviewed the 2012 Tokyo Strategy and adopted the 2015 Tokyo Strategy for the 2016-2018 period.

They agreed to develop regional industrial infrastructure with an emphasis on urban development, energy, and transportation, among others; stimulate industrial sectors, regional value chain through the building of special economic zones; promote sustainable growth for a green Mekong sub-region via coordination in climate change response and sustainable use and management of Mekong River water; and increase coordination with other Mekong sub-region cooperation mechanisms and with the private sector, and international organisations.

Foreign and trade ministers of the participant countries were tasked with devising action plans and visions for Mekong industrial development.

The summit hailed Japan’s commitment of providing 6.1 billion USD in official development assistance (ODA) for Mekong countries in the next three years. Previously, during the 2012-2015 period, Japan aided the region with 4.9 billion USD.

With the goal of maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the region, the leaders reaffirmed their determination of boost and deepen cooperation among the member countries on regional and international of shared issues.

In the 2015 Tokyo Strategy, the leaders emphasised the importance of ocean while affirming the need of closer cooperation to maintain maritime security and safety in the region. They underscored the full implementation of the DOC and the early formation of a COC and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, including the UNCLOS.

They expressed their concern over recent developments in the East Sea, making the situation more complicated, undermining trust and impacting on peace, security, stability in the region.

VNA