Japan vowed on Tuesday to help Southeast Asia rebuild roads and heritage sites damaged by the Dec. 26 tsunamis to hasten the return of visitors to the tourism-driven region.
The pledge was made at the annual meeting of tourism ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its northeastern neighbors China, Japan and South Korea, who met on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi.
Hayao Hora, vice minister for international affairs in the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry, headed the Japanese delegation.
While the amount of money has not yet been determined, a Japanese official said it would likely be drawn from the $500 million emergency relief fund Japan has set up for the tsunami-hit countries.