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Japan commits 5.5 bln USD in aid to Mekong countries

Japanese PM Yukio Hatoyama on Nov. 6 committed to provide over 5.5 billion USD in ODA to five Mekong countries in Southeast Asia over the next three years.
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyamaon Nov. 6 committed to provide over 500 billion yen (5.5 billion USD)in official development assistance (ODA) to five Mekong countries inSoutheast Asia over the next three years.

The commitment was made at the first Mekong-Japan Summit that opened in Tokyo the same day.

PM Hatoyama pledged to boost Japan's support for the Mekong countries to help the region's stability and development.

''The new government of Japan intends to proactively contribute morethan ever to stability and development in the Mekong region through ourstrengthened assistance,'' Hatoyama was quoted by Kyodo news as saying.

''Japan will steadily play its role as a bridge for common prosperity in the future,'' he added in his opening remark.

The leaders of the Mekong countries thanked Japan for its commitment tothe region's development, saying that greater cooperation between thecountries would contribute to the successful establishment of an ASEANEconomic Community, which is planned to be set up by 2015.

Also, Japan will step up efforts to help build basic infrastructure inthe region, such as transport networks linking production bases andindustrial areas scattered around the region.

Participants at the meeting are expected to issue a joint declaration covering a range of topics on Nov. 7./.
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