Myanmar and Japan vowed to cooperate in implementation of the former's infrastructural projects, official media reported Tuesday.

The infrastructural projects cover Thilawa and Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) projects, Yangon-Nay Phi Taw-Mandalay railroad and Yada U airport upgrading projects.

The two countries made the pledge when Myanmar President U Thein Sein met with visiting Eriko Yamatani, parliament member of Japan's House of Councilors, in Nay Pyi Taw.

Yamatani, who leads a Japanese official development assistance (ODA) delegation of the Japan House of Councilors, arrived in Myanmar Monday to review prospects of Myanmar in the future and support development of the country.

Japan has granted 5 billion U.S. dollars' new loan of ODA to Myanmar in June.

Japan is also helping Myanmar to implement Yangon water supply and power projects in addition to the said infrastructural projects.

Thilawa SEZ project, which includes factories, high-tech industry, textile, labor intensive industry and manufacturing industry, is expected to be launched in late October on 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of land as the first phase and 6,000 acres (2, 430 hectares) are targeted for establishment by 2015.

The planned Thilawa SEZ will be jointly developed by Myanmar and Japan with Myanmar holding 51 percent stake and Japan with 49 percent, according to the Thilawa SEZ Management Committee.

Thilawa SEZ project lies between Thanlyin and Kyauktan townships in Yangon region.

Nine Myanmar public companies and a consortium of three Japanese firms comprising Mitsubishi, Marubeni and Sumitomo are to develop the Thilawa SEZ.

As for the Dawei SEZ, Myanmar has laid down a 75-year long-term plan of developing the SEZ in southern Tanintharyi region, seeking strategic partnership with Japan in additional to Thailand and inviting international tenders and local developers for the implementation of the SEZ project.

The Dawei SEZ covers such projects as building deep-sea port and Myanmar-Thai highway, electricity production, dam project and establishment of factories and urban housing.

According to official statistics, Japan's investment in Myanmar amounted to 273.423 million U.S. dollars as of July 2013 since Myanmar opened to such investment in late 1988 and standing the 11th in Myanmar's foreign investment line-up.

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