Japan keen on friendship with northeast:

Japan keen on friendship with northeast:

Context

• At the fourth Northeast Connectivity Summit in Kohima from September 22 to 23, a representative of the Embassy of Japan said Tokyo would invest in the region’s infrastructure, education and people-to-people sectors.

Why northeastern region?

• The northeastern region is located at a strategically and economically important juncture between India and Southeast Asia as well as within the Bimstec (Bay of Bengal) community.
• Therefore, Japan has placed a particular importance on the cooperation in the northeastern region.

The new road connectivity

• The northeast, Japan had undertaken works on road connectivity, energy projects, water supply and sanitation, forest resources management, Japanese language education and post-war reconciliation, which aimed to build a deeper understanding of the actions of Japanese forces in the region during the Second World War.
• Tokyo Is committed to undertakE two major road and infrastructure building projects in Mizoram and Meghalaya. But the event in Kohima provided a broader portrait of Japan’s interest in the northeast.

The next Connectivity Summit

• The next Connectivity Summit in Tawang is expected to take Japan’s representation into the strategically located region that borders China.
• It was noteworthy that during Mr. Abe’s visit, Japanese officials had declined to spell out if Tokyo would be interested in acquiring projects in Arunachal Pradesh.

Myanmar’s interest

• The summit also indicated Myanmar’s interest in the potential of the region.
• Nagaland’s Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar urged improved connectivity with Myanmar for unlocking the regional trade potential.