Japan plans to provide ¥10 billion chiefly in grants over the next five years to Myanmar to bolster the living standards of ethnic minorities that have suffered from years of internal conflict in the country. Tokyo intends to provide the aid to help accelerate the peace talks between the government of President Thein Sein and ethnic rebels, reports said on January 5.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to provide more than ¥150 billion in loans and grants to Myanmar to support the development of the resource-rich country and strengthen bilateral economic ties.
Autonomy-seeking rebels in Myanmar have battled the military for years, spurring many to flee underdeveloped areas marred by conflict along the country’s borders with China and Thailand. The Thein Sein regime has pledged to engineer a national reconciliation and is seeking to conclude cease-fires with each of the rebel groups to secure a comprehensive nationwide truce.