The main investor in the controversial Myitsone hydropower dam in Kachin State has expressed a desire to restart the suspended project, according to members of a National League for Democracy (NLD) delegation that traveled to China earlier this month. (more…)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will pay a state visit to Myanmar soon, an official announcement said here Tuesday without specifying the date of his visit. (more…)

A 12-member senior-level delegation of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party left here for Kunming to pay the first ever 10-day study visit to four cities of China. (more…)

The solution to end the violence that has led to thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar for Bangladesh rests with the Myanmar government, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told Arab News in an exclusive interview yesterday. (more…)

The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) did not take part in the decision of the Nippon Foundation, the Japanese philanthropic organization, to issue warning to the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ to suspend its humanitarian aid assistance if the group failed to participate in the UNFC activities, said the grouping at a meeting in Chiangmai on 1 May. (more…)

Asian Development Bank would finance the construction of the 417km long Indo-Myanmar Road connecting Moore in Myanmar with Sutarkandi in Karimganj bordering Bangladesh.
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China did not sell helicopter gunships to ethnic Wa paramilitaries in eastern Burma, Wa sources speaking to The Irrawaddy claimed this week. (more…)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly plans to visit Myanmar in late May. The last time a Japanese prime minister visited the county was in 1977 when Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda visited then Burma.
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On April 27, senior reporters and editors from 8 Myanmar media outlets visited the Ji Xiang Magazine of Yunnan.
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Japanese media reported yesterday that Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy, gave a speech at the plenary meeting of the “Democracy Ministerial Conference” during her visit to Mongolia on April 29. Concerning relations with neighbors such as China and India, she asserted that Myanmar “has maintained good relations with both countries” and intends to continue to deepen these relationships in the future. Some people pointed out that since Myanmar started its reform, China has been concerned about whether it will change the relationship between Myanmar and China, which used to be very close during the previous Burmese government. However, Aung San Suu Kyi confirmed that Myanmar will continue to emphasize its relationship with China.
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The Chinese military has sent armed helicopters equipped with air-to-air missiles to Burma’s largest ethnic rebel group the United Wa State Army (UWSA), according to a report published in Jane’s Intelligence Review on Monday.
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The Chinese embassy in Yangon has denied fresh allegations that its government sold weapons to one of Myanmar’s armed ethnic groups.
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A port construction project in Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) will start next year using US$205 million low-interest, long term loan from Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), according to Myanma Port Authority (MPA). (more…)

According to a report by Japan’s Kyodo News, informed sources from the Japanese government said on the 24th that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to visit Myanmar and hold his first meeting with Myanmar President U Thein Sein. The visit is tentatively set for the 25th and 26th of May. Currently the details are being coordinated. (more…)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to visit Myanmar in late May for talks with President Thein Sein with the aim of accelerating Japanese efforts to promote economic development and democratization there, an official said.
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On April 22, Ambassador Yang Houlan met with the chair of Myanmar National League for Democracy Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon, and exchanged views on the prospects for reform, development of Myanmar, and on how to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation. (more…)

Two Arakanese leaders from the Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) left for China on Saturday at an invitation made by the Chinese communist party.
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Speaking to Mizzima on behalf of state-run China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the Secretary to the Chinese Ambassador in Yangon, Xiong Guofeng, said that the company did not force workers at its pipeline plant on Maday Island to sign a pledge saying they would not participate in Thursday’s demonstration, and furthermore that they did not dismiss more than 50 workers who refused to do so.
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According to the Xinhua News Agency, the first group of 11 Myanmar athletes and coaches has headed for China on the 17th for targeted training.  The trip was arranged in accordance with the Chinese sports aid program for Myanmar and in preparation for the 27th Southeast Asian Games.
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The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) announced this week that organized crime in the Asia-Pacific region is a US$90 billion a year business—twice the GDP of Myanmar. (more…)