The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Embassy of Japan in Bangkok will co-host the 6^th Green Mekong Forum on 8 July 2019 at Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel, Bangkok. The Forum will be co-chaired by  Mr. Nikorndej Balankura, Deputy Director-General, Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Mr. Kenichi Kobayashi, Deputy Director-General, Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

 

      The Forum is an annual event in line with the Plan of Action “A Decade toward the Green Mekong” under Mekong - Japan Cooperation Framework, focusing on the exchange of views and best practices to promote a balanced approach towards economic development, environmental protection and sustainable growth, as well as addressing common challenges faced by Japan and the Mekong riparian countries including Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam.

 

      This year’s Forum will focus on 3 cross cutting issues namely: (1) Challenges and Approaches to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals -SDGs, (2) Marine Plastic Debris Management and (3) Water Resources Management. In addition, university students will be invited to share their experiences on the role of youth in achieving SDGs. This is in line with the Leaders’ concurrence at the 10^th Mekong-Japan Summit in October 2018 to upgrade the Action Plan for “A Decade toward the Green Mekong” by 2020  to “Mekong-Japan Initiative for SDGs toward 2030” to be adopted at the 11^th Mekong - Japan Summit in November 2019 in order to ensure SDGs in the Mekong sub - region. 

 

      Speakers include representatives from government agencies, international organizations, and academic institutions from Japan and Mekong countries. Approximately 100 - 120 representatives from  Mekong countries, Japan and relevant agencies, private companies, diplomatic corps from Mekong countries and Development Partners in the Mekong sub - region, academia and youth are expected to participate in the Forum.

 

      This year’s Forum is held as  part of the activities to celebrate the “Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2019” on the occasion of the 10^th Anniversary of  Mekong Japan Cooperation, to promote mutual understanding and exchanges between the  peoples of the Mekong countries and Japan.