Myanmar FM to visit Japan

Myanmar's foreign minister will visit Japan next week in another sign that one of the world's most isolated states is beginning to open up after it freed hundreds of political prisoners this week. Wunna Maung Lwin will visit Japan on Oct. 20-22, Kyodo news agency reported on Friday, citing Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba. While India rolled out the red carpet Friday for Myanmar President Thein Sein,, who arrived in India Wednesday on a three-day official visit. He hold a round of extensive talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Myanmar released about 200 political detainees on Wednesday. The release follows a series of reforms since a nominally civilian government took power, including the release from house arrest of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has described the release of a number of political prisoners in Burma as an encouraging first step. While EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has  welcomed Myanmar's release of dozens of political prisoners as a sign of the new government's pledge to reform but called for all to be freed. Japan froze new development assistance to Myanmar in 2003. It is seeks to develop Myanmar's rich natural resources, including rare earths, as well as taking part in fixing the nation's poor infrastructure, Kyodo said, quoting