TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba held talks on Friday with his Myanmar counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin, promising to provide more development aid if the isolated country's transition to democratic governance makes further progress, a Japanese official said. Myanmar's Foreign Minister Wunna Maug Lwin, left, shakes hands with Japan's Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba prior to their meeting in Tokyo, Friday, Oct. 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)During the meeting in Tokyo, Wunna Maung Lwin said Myanmar is planning to continue its amnesty for political prisoners "at an appropriate time," the official said.
Gemba welcomed Myanmar's gradual liberalization and said Japan is ready to launch consultations on new official development assistance programs with Myanmar, the official said.
He also said the Japanese government would like to send fact-finding missions to Myanmar in the near future to decide whether it is possible to resume two ODA projects -- rehabilitation of the Baluchaung No. 2 hydro power plant and construction of the Myanmar-Japan center for human resources development, the official said.
Japan has frozen new ODA programs for Myanmar other than humanitarian aid since 2003, when pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest.
The ministerial meeting took place as Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has pledged to promote national reconciliation and free around 6,000 prisoners.
It is the first time in 16 years that a Myanmar foreign minister has visited Japan for the purpose of holding bilateral talks.
Gemba told Wunna Maung Lwin that Japan is eager to strengthen economic and cultural relations with the Southeast Asian country, adding that the current democratization process must be "irreversible," the official said.
Gemba expressed hope that Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy will be legalized as a political party and said that Japan would like to invite party members to visit.
The country, dominated by the military for around half a century, released about 200 political prisoners this month as announced earlier as part of an amnesty in the latest sign of a transition to democracy.
Unlike the United States and Europe, Japan has not imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar.
The United States and Europe remain cautious about lifting their sanctions against Myanmar, saying more must be done to improve the human rights situation in the country.
