Small boat along the Irrawaddy river banks in Kachin State

(Reuters) – Japan plans to resume full-blown development aid to Myanmar to help finance its infrastructure projects as the Southeast Asian country takes steps towards democracy, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said on Tuesday.

Myanmar’s cabinet, led by President Thein Sein, has embarked on a wave of reforms since taking office last March, such as the release of more than 600 political prisoners, an easing of media censorship and laws allowing protests and trade unions. More…