Government leaders from Mekong sub-region countries Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam have ended discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the First Mekong-Japan Summit in Tokyo.

During the summit, the Japanese premier also held bilateral meetings with Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The summit was held from November 6-7 in Tokyo , with leaders of Mekong countries and the Japanese government agreeing to cooperate on issues such as environmental protection and climate change over the next 10 years.

A highlight of the summit was the adoption of the Tokyo Declaration, urging enhanced cooperation between the two sides on environmental issues.

To encourage the region's further development, Japan pledged more than 500 billion yen in official aid to the countries along the Mekong River over the next three years from fiscal year 2009-10.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Tokyo Declaration agreed to organise a Senior Officials' Meeting in the first half of 2010.

At the meeting, Japan and the Mekong region countries will discuss relevant issues and create concrete goals and action to be implemented under a plan entitled "A Decade towards the Green Mekong."

Japan will render further assistance for the construction of infrastructure including roads and bridges to complete remaining sections of the East-West Economic Corridor and the Southern Economic Corridor.

Japan is in agreement with the Mekong region countries on the importance of building a bridge over the Mekong River at Neak Luang in Cambodia .

The government of Japan will also implement a training programme on special economic zone development for Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar and Vietnam and will continue to support the construction of schools in poor areas.

These areas include three southern provinces in Laos , the northern mountainous area in Vietnam , and the area of the Irrawady Delta in Myanmar affected by cyclone Nargis.

On the enhancement of human resource exchange and development, the Japanese government will start a new initiative to invite a total of about 30,000 people, including youths from the Mekong region countries, to spend time gaining skills in Japan in the three years from 2010.