Japan, Mekong countries agree to cooperate on Indo-Pacific strategy
Jiji -- Oct 09
Leaders of Japan and five Southeast Asian countries along the Mekong River agreed Tuesday to work together for realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific strategy proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The leaders, gathered in Tokyo for an annual meeting, also reaffirmed their cooperation in efforts to denuclearize North Korea and deal with the situation in the South China Sea, where China is building military bases.

The leaders adopted at the summit a statement called the Tokyo Strategy 2018, which set new guidelines for cooperation between Japan and the five Southeast Asian countries--Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

At a joint press conference after the summit, Abe said Japan regards its ties with the Mekong nations as a new strategic partnership aimed at realizing sustainable growth and a prosperous future.

The Tokyo Strategy "welcomed Japan's policy to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific to contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world."

News source: Jiji