Japan and five Mekong River countries have agreed to focus on cross-border energy security cooperation in light of power shortages in some parts of Southeast Asia.

The agreement was reached at their economic ministerial meeting in Indonesia, on August 14, under which they will build transnational power transmission networks and a system for mutual supply of electricity in the Greater Mekong Sub-region covering Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

At the meeting, Japan also proposed studying the actual conditions of electricity supply in the region.

The ministers agreed to draw up a timetable for major projects in an action plan worked out last year to enhance the region's economic infrastructure by their next annual meeting so as to accelerate progress.

They also confirmed that the countries will more actively take advantage of private-public partnerships from the planning stage to build infrastructure./.