Published:  00:00 Thursday - September 17, 2009

The “Mekong-Japan Tourism and Cultural Festival” will be held in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho from Dec. 2-5.

The initiative was made at the Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Tokyo early this year.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), more than 200 guests, including leaders of the culture and tourism sector and representatives of travel agents from Mekong sub-region countries and Japan, as well as international organisations, Vietnamese localities and regional countries will attend the event.

High on the agenda is a workshop underscoring the sustainable development of tourism in the Mekong Delta region. Participants will look into the region’s cultural values, tourism potential, infrastructure, human resources, and prospects of Mekong-Japan tourism cooperation.

The festival is not only a chance to promote Vietnam’s image and highlight the socio-economic potential of the Mekong Delta region, but it also plays an important role in strengthening cooperation and friendship among Mekong sub-region countries as well as enhancing the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Japan.

Cooperation between Mekong sub-region countries is described as one the world’s fastest regional cooperation development channels, posting an annual average economic growth rate of 6 percent over the past 10 years. The region is also attractive to foreign investors.