Japan's deputy prime minister, Taro Aso, travels to Myanmar this week
for talks with President Thein Sein to boost relations with the rapidly
transforming country and support Japanese business interests in the
region.
Aso, who doubles as finance minister, meets Thein Sein and
his opposite number Win Shein in the capital Naypyitaw on Jan. 3 in the
first high-profile overseas visit by a member of Tokyo's new Cabinet
since it took office last week.
Prior to his ministerial appointment, Aso had already planned
to visit Myanmar as a lawmaker and a member of Japan-Myanmar
Association, a group of politicians, businessmen and former diplomats
set up to advance Japanese business interests in Myanmar.
Their sales--and sometimes their premises--badly damaged by a
territorial spat between Tokyo and Beijing, Japanese firms have made an
aggressive push back into Myanmar after Thein Sein, a former member of
the military junta began overseeing reforms.
Myanmar has introduced a substantial series of social and
economic reforms since power was handed to a quasi-civilian government
took power in 2011 after nearly half a century of military rule.
Change has attracted large numbers of foreign investors and
prompted the United States and European Union to ease longstanding
sanctions to encourage further reform.
The move by Aso, one of the closest allies of the
conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, underscores the importance of
the Southeast Asian country, where a joint Japan-Myanmar consortium has
signed a deal to develop a 2,400-hectare special economic zone in
Thilawa, close to its largest city of Yangon.
The Japan-Myanmar Association has been central to securing
state support for the project, including a waiver of most of Myanmar's
debt arrears of more than $6 billion necessary to provide fresh loans
for the construction of the zone.
Japan has said it will start waiving the arrears at the earliest opportunity in 2013.
Japan may provide an estimated $12.6 billion over several
years in aid to build infrastructure around Thilawa, officials with
knowledge of the project told Reuters. The plan is to build the first
450 hectares of the park by 2015 and start luring Japanese and global
manufacturers.
Aso is to visit Thilawa and meet Japanese business representatives in Yangon on Jan. 4.
Prime Minister Abe plans his first overseas visit to Washington around the end of January.
source: The Asahi Shimbun
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201212300026
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