H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, will join the delegation of H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, to the 10^th Mekong - Japan Summit and related activities, during 8 - 9 October 2018, in Tokyo, Japan.

 

      The summit is organised to commemorate the 10^th anniversary of the establishment of Mekong - Japan cooperation. The leaders will adopt “Tokyo Strategy 2018 for Mekong - Japan cooperation” to replace the “New Tokyo Strategy 2015”. 

 

      The Tokyo Strategy 2018 will guide future Mekong - Japan Cooperation in line with the following: (1) United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (2) Free and Open Indo - Pacific Strategy and (3) ACMECS Master Plan (2019 – 2023). This will be the first time that the ACMECS Master Plan has been incorporated in an international meeting outcome document since it was adopted at the 8^th ACMECS Summit in Bangkok in June 2018. 

 

      The Tokyo Strategy 2018 also identifies three pillars of cooperation; (1) Developing a vibrant and effective connectivity (2) Creating a people-centered society and (3) Realising a Green Mekong. It also highlights regional and global issues that could affect stability, security and interest of Mekong - Japan cooperation, such as the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the South China Sea, as well as the implementation of relevant United Nations Resolutions to create sustainable peace and stability in the region and the world.

 

      During the visit, the Prime Minister will also be granted a Royal Audience with  His Majesty the Emperor of Japan as well as hold a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan. Other related activities include a meeting with members of the Japan - Mekong Parliamentary Friendship Association, a luncheon with representatives of Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) as well as attend the Mekong - Japan Investment Forum arranged by JETRO and the Japanese private sector. This visit will be an opportunity for Thailand to encourage Japanese investors to Thailand, and to showcase Thailand's commitment as a development partner for sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region.

 

      Mekong - Japan cooperation was initiated by Japan in 2008, comprising six members: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam and Japan. It is aimed at promoting economic and social cooperation to enhance the well-being of Mekong countries, reducing development gaps within ASEAN, and supporting a smooth transition to become an ASEAN Community. With Japan, Thailand has played an active role as Japan’s development partner and donor country in contributing to sustainable development in the Mekong countries at bilateral and trilateral levels. The meeting will also designate the year 2019 as the “Mekong - Japan Exchange Year 2019” on the occasion of the 10^th anniversary of the Mekong - Japan cooperation. Member States will organise activities to promote mutual understanding and exchanges between the people of the Mekong sub-region and Japan. The 6th Green Mekong Forum will be one of the activities to be co-hosted by Thailand to commemorate such occasion.