Myanmar and Japan will cooperate in a wide range of health issues,
primarily focusing on combating tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Myanmar
President U Thein Sein and visiting member of the Japanese House of
Representatives and President of the Japan-Myanmar Parliamentarian
Friendship League Ichiro Aisawa in Nay Pyi Taw on September 6.
The two sides also discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral
relations, Japan ’s assistance for the 27th Southeast Asian Games to be
hosted by Myanmar at the end of this year, as well as issues
related to Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
In
June, the Japan International Cooperation Agency agreed to provide a
loan of over 51 billion JPY (roughly 5.1 billion USD) as official
development assistance for Myanmar.
Of the
amount, 17 billion JPY (1.7 billion USD) is for infrastructure
construction to reduce poverty in the Southeast Asian nation, while 20
billion JPY (2 billion USD) will be used to develop Thilawa SEZ, and the
remaining for upgrading the power grid project and power stations in
Yangon.
According to official statistics, Japan ‘s
investment has surpassed 270 million USD in Myanmar since the
country opened its doors to foreign investment in late 1988.
Japan now stands in 11th place in Myanmar ‘s foreign investment line-up.-VNA