Nov 15 (NHK) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has urged Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi to work toward the return of Rohingya Muslims who have fled to Bangladesh.
The prime minister met with Myanmar's state counsellor in the Philippines on Tuesday.
Abe expressed serious concern that more than 600,000 Rohingya minority Muslims have fled to Bangladesh due to fighting between government troops and Rohingya armed groups in the western state of Rakhine.
Abe urged Aung San Suu Kyi to work for the restoration of public order based on law and the return of the evacuees. He said Japan is ready to support Myanmar's government regarding the matter.
And Abe promised to provide loans worth up to 1 billion dollars to help Myanmar improve its railway system and support ethnic minorities, among others.
Aung San Suu Kyi said humanitarian assistance and infrastructure development in Rakhine State will lead to peace and stability in the region.
Abe asked Aung San Suu Kyi for her country's cooperation in increasing pressure on North Korea, and also in resolving the issue of the North's abduction of Japanese citizens and others.
She expressed support for Japan's position.
Source: ANNnewsCH
