Seminar on Japan’s role in economic corridor development

The relations between Japan and countries along the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) was the highlight of a seminar held in central Da Nang city on January 5-6.

Japanese scholars stressed their country’s role in helping ASEAN’s new members narrow the development gap with other members and integrate into the region. In addition to direct investment, Japan has been providing large amounts of official development assistance (ODA) to these countries to help them improve their infrastructure, reduce poverty, develop human resources and reform legal institutions.

For their part, Vietnamese scholars said the EWEC countries, including Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, boast great potential in a wide range of fields, thus the region is a good destination for investors.

The seminar, co-organised by the Southeast Asia Research Institute, Tokyo University and the Da Nang-based Asia-Pacific Economic Centre, also reviewed the process of bilateral and multi-faceted cooperation between ASEAN and East Asia countries.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and the University of Tokyo is visiting the central province of Quang Tri to study the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC).

The EWEC is the first and shortest inland route connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The Japanese delegation was received by vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Huu Thang.

Thang introduced the delegation to the EWEC’s construction process, and its important role in the economic development and cultural exchange between Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar located in the corridor.

The 1,450 km long route has shown its merits in promoting the economic and cultural exchange between the four countries as well as with China and other Southeast Asian countries, Thang said.

On January 7, the delegation will visit the Lao Bao Economic-Trade Zone in the province’s Huong Hoa border district. (VNA)