(VOVworld) - Vietnam pledges to continue its efforts to foster Mekong-Japan cooperation for sustainable development, peace, stability and prosperity in the region, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said. The Vietnamese Government leader attended the 8th Mekong-Japan Summit on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and related meetings in Laos.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (rightmost) at the Summit (Source: VNA)

Prime Minister Phuc suggested the Japanese Government assist the Mekong countries in building new roads along economic corridors, especially the Vientiane-Hanoi Expressway, which will be an important trade route not only connecting the two capital cities of Vietnam and Laos but also creating a new connectivity corridor. He also proposed the Japanese Government continue experience sharing and technology transfers to help the Mekong countries develop a green and smart agriculture that is adaptable to climate change.

Sharing his viewpoint on the Joint Statement of the 8th Mekong-Japan Summit, Prime Minister Phuc said that countries needed a peaceful, stable and cooperative environment for sustainable development. He expressed his deep concern over recent developments in the East Sea, saying that involved parties should exercise restraint, take no unilateral actions to complicate the situation, and make an effort to ease tensions and prevent possible conflict at sea. He stressed the need to respect legal and diplomatic processes and resolve disputes by peaceful means on the basis of the UN Charter and international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), while seriously implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and working towards a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The same day, at a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke highly of Japan’s support for Vietnam in its socio-economic development. He asked Japan to continue Official Development Assistance to Vietnam, expand investment and trade with Vietnam and help it access the IDA preferential loans of the World Bank after 2017.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe said that Japan would continue to help Vietnam achieve sustainable development and provide Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, including a project on climate change adaptation and another on infrastructure at Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park. He also pledged to encourage Japanese hi-tech firms to invest in Vietnam. Both the Vietnamese and Japanese PMs expressed concern about recent complicated developments in the region and underlined the importance of maintaining peace, security and cooperation in the East Sea.