Tokyo (VNA) – Japan highly values Vietnam’s important roles in theMekong-Japan cooperation mechanism, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to JapanNguyen Quoc Cuong.

In his interview granted to Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to Japan and his participation of the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit Meeting in Japan from October 8-10, Ambassador Cuong highlightedVietnam’s positive contributions to the mechanism with various activities likethe Green Mekong Forum, and cooperative programmes in environment, clean water,disaster prevention, among others.

Vietnam is drawing up a plan for the cooperative activities in 2019-2021 period,he said.

Bolstering the mechanism development is in line with the benefits of bothVietnam and the whole region. Vietnamese ministries and sectors have involvedin some 100 projects carried out in the framework of the mechanism. Among them,Lach Huyen deep-water port, Noi Bai International Airport’s terminal 2, O Monthermal power plant, and Nghi Son 2 thermal power plant are important projectsto Vietnam’s infrastructure system.

Thanks to the mechanism, Vietnam has already built and operated an electriccustoms clearance system and produced measles-rubella vaccine, he added.

Besides, the country has put forth projects to connect the sub-Mekong regionand integrate the Mekong water resources management into the cooperationmechanism.

On the development of the Mekong-Japan cooperation mechanism, Ambassador Cuongsaid that it has attained significant achievements in the past 10 years acrossthe prioritised sectors of soft and hard infrastructure cooperation, andsustainable development.

Member countries have worked together to build comprehensive transport systemthat helps link the sub-Mekong region through connecting the East-West EconomicCorridor to the South Economic Corridor. Also, their cooperation facilitatescustoms clearance and human resources training.

Attaching much importance to the mechanism, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abecommitted 7 billion USD for the Mekong-Japan cooperation mechanism under theTokyo Strategy 2015 for the 2016-2018 tenure.

On bilateral activities of PM Phuc, Ambassador Cuong said that the leader willhave bilateral meetings with Japanese high-ranking officials to develop theVietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership into a more effective andpractical manner.

PM Phuc and his Japanese counterpart are scheduled to hold talks on bilateraland international cooperation. Besides, the Vietnamese Government leader willhave several meetings with Japanese officials to further all-roundcollaboration.

An investment forum will be held in the East Asian country, with 1,000representatives of businesses expected to attend. The event shows Vietnam’srespect for the extensive strategic partnership with Japan, particularly ineconomy, trade and investment. –VNA