During the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bangkok, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the U.S. and Japan will partner on a new initiative to develop regional electricity grids in the Lower Mekong region. The U.S. is committing an initial $29.5 million to promote a more sustainable energy sector in the Indo-Pacific region.
The joint statement said, “The United States and Japan pledge to partner with Mekong countries to maintain and promote a more sustainable energy sector and quality energy infrastructure development that meets the needs of the people of the Mekong, in accordance with the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment.”