The governments of Burma and Japan have reaffirmed plans to work together on key infrastructure projects in Burma, including the construction of special economic zones at the ports of Thilawa and Dawei and the upgrading of Mandalay’s international airport and rail link to Naypyitaw and Rangoon. The two sides made the pledge following a meeting on Monday between President Thein Sein and Japanese MP Eriko Yamatani, who led a delegation from Japan’s House of Councilors that had come to assess Burma’s development prospects. Earlier this year, Japan announced that it would give Burma a new loan of US $5 billion as part of its Official Development Assistance for the country.