Myanmar Times–15 Dec 2017
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw held a meeting on Thursday in Tokyo, with the Japanese leader expected to announce fresh support for infrastructure projects in the country.
The planned projects are aimed at promoting the development of Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar, facilitating logistics and improving electric infrastructure, according to Japanese government officials.
During their talks in his office, Abe was set to reaffirm Japan’s support for Myanmar’s democratic transition following decades of military rule.
Abe was also likely to unveil new methods designed to boost bilateral ties, such as promoting Japanese language education in Myanmar and expanding investment in the country by Japanese companies.
The two leaders were also expected to exchange their views on how to improve the situation in Rakhine State in western Myanmar, from which hundreds of thousands of Muslims have fled.
According to a UN estimate, more than 600,000 Muslim refugees have escaped from the predominantly Buddhist country to neighboring Bangladesh since late August, when violence erupted between Muslim insurgents and Myanmar security forces, prompting a harsh crackdown.
Myanmar authorities have said the military operation was aimed only at restoring stability and preventing terrorism.
The president is visiting Japan to attend an international forum on achieving universal health coverage.
