Japan hopes that Myanmar will move toward democracy and national reconciliation, Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba said Tuesday, adding that progress in these areas is the fastest way to help the people of the Southeast Asian country become economically affluent.
"What is important from now on is that . . . people in Myanmar realize that their country will become rich if the democratic process and national reconciliation advance," Genba told reporters when asked about the victory by democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party in weekend by-elections in the long-isolated country.
Genba, who visited Myanmar in late December, said Japan is committed to backing the ongoing political and economic reforms, pointing out that Tokyo is reviewing its aid policy as the country rapidly opens up to the rest of the world after years of repression by a military junta.