Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung hasasked the Japanese government to help Mekong river countries conductresearch on joint protection and effective use of Mekong riverresources.

PM Dung said this while receiving Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam MitsuoSakaba in Hanoi on Nov. 2, who conveyed the invitation of PrimeMinister Yukio Hatoyama for the PM to attend the Mekong-Japan Summitwhich is scheduled later this week in Tokyo in order to boostcooperation between Japan and Mekong river countries on environment,infrastructure and human resources.

PM Dung said that effectively promoting Japan’s initiative wouldcontribute to raising its profile in regional cooperation and with theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), bringing benefits toboth sides as well as contributing to peace and development in ASEANand Asia .

Ambassador Sakaba said the Japanese government expects the meeting toissue a Tokyo statement and pass a detailed action plan, in which Japanwill pay special attention to environmental protection in the region.

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama proposed that the meeting beheld every year and that the next event convene in Vietnam, coincidingwith the ASEAN Summit in 2010, he added.

Also during the reception, PM Dung and Ambassador Sakaba discussedmutual cooperation projects on Noi Bai airport terminal T2 and the roadlinking Noi Bai airport to Nhat Tan bridge, and Lach Huyen port./.