Japan has pledged a number of aid packages to support Laos and Myanmar with infrastructure-building projects.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on December 15 announced that his country will provide Laos with an aid package worth 10.46 JPY (over 100 million USD) to help the Southeast Asian nation expand the international airport terminal in Vientiane, and another project on poverty reduction.

It also partly helps in a bridge construction initiative in the southern part of Laos, the Japan’s Foreign Ministry was quoted by news agencies as saying.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong agreed to launch official consultations to conclude an aviation pact that will pave the way for direct flights to further embrace bilateral economic ties.

The same day, Japan secured fresh aid worth about 63 billion JPY (around 610 million USD) to Myanmar. The loans are designed to help build infrastructure for the Thilawa Special Economic Zone in the suburbs of Yangon, and upgrade a railway network in the country, among other projects.

PM Abe said at a joint press conference with President of Myanmar U Thein Sein in Tokyo that Japan will continue to provide support, both at the public and private level, for infrastructure building initiatives and work toward Myanmar’s development.

(Source: VNA)