Reports noted that during his recent meeting with visiting Myanmar President Thein Sein, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has expressed Japan’s plan to resume its yen loans to Myanmar after 25 years to promote democratic reforms. The yen loans to Myanmar were suspended by Japan in 1987, a year ahead of the military coup that crushed democratic uprising in Myanmar. Noda also agreed to forgive 303.5 billion yen of Myanmar’s debt and overdue charges. Japan is the first country to announce plans to forgive Myanmar’s debts. It is also the largest yen loan to be forgiven by Tokyo.1

In another development, according to reports, during Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit to Tokyo, Japanese PM Noda has assured his counterpart to provide with 1.51 billion yen with a view to help Cambodia recover from damage caused by last year’s flood. The aid would help Cambodia to finance projects as road and drainage repairs.2

• 1. “Japan giving Myanmar push/ Loan resumption, debt forgiveness aimed at supporting democracy”, The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 23, 2012, at http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120422002427.htm
• 2. “Japan to give 1.5 bil. Yen aid to flood-hit Cambodia”, Yomiuri Shimbun, April 23, 2012, at http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120422002345.htm