Japan to give more aids during Myanmar-Japan Summit

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Japan to give more aids during Myanmar-Japan Summit

Eleven Newsmedia, 15 Dec 2013

URL: http://elevenmyanmar.com/politics/4449-japan-to-give-more-aids-during-myanmar-japan-summit
President Thein Sein and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will hold Myanmar-Japan Summit today in Tokyo, where Japan is expected to give more loans to Myanmar.

The loan is seen by some observers as an attempt to counterbalance China's influence on Myanmar and support Japanese investors as well.

The two leaders, who are attending the Asean-Japan Summit, will meet at the Japanese Prime Minister's office in Tokyo.

During the Summit, the two leaders will discuss the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and Japan in 2014, Japanese support for national reconciliation in Myanmar, establishing concrete laws for foreign investments in Myanmar, and uplifting cooperation in health and medical sectors.

The Summit will also highlight Japanese investment in Thilawa Special Economic Zone.

Shinzo Abe is expected to pledge a loan of US$585 million (60 billion yen) to Myanmar to help build its infrastructures, Kyodo News reported on Thursday.

The Japanese Prime Minister has earlier said Japan will give loans for infrastructure development in Myanmar through its official development assistance program.

Abe paid a three-day visit to Myanmar in May this year as the first Japanese leader to visit the country in in 36 years.

President Thein Sein attended the Japan-Mekong Summit and Myanmar-Japan Summit in Japan in April 2012 and signed three memorandums of understanding - MOU on Japanese government's assistance to Myanmar government for human resources development fellowship program, MoU on cooperation in main project development of Thilawa Special Economic Zone, and MoU on Japan's assistance in preventive measures against natural disaster for rehabilitation of mangrove forest in Ayeyawaddy delta.

Japan has endorsed Myanmar's reform processes by writing off nearly US$2 billion in debt and provided more assistance for democratic reforms, economic development, and poverty alleviation.