Channel NewsAsia 16 Nov 07
TOKYO: Japan plans to pledge US$1.8 billion worth of low-interest loans to Asian countries to help them combat environmental pollution at a summit next week in Singapore, reports said Friday.
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda plans to unveil the initiative to help fight air, water and other pollution when he attends the East Asia summit, the Nikkei daily and Jiji Press news agency said.
Under the scheme, Japan would extend low-interest loans totalling 200 billion yen (US$1.8 billion), they said without identifying their sources.
The Nikkei economic daily said Japan would extend the loans over five years and would also accept some 1,000 people for training in environmental technologies.
The loans could be used to improve sewage processing and set up facilities to reduce emissions of sulfur, a contributor to acid rain, the Nikkei said.
No immediate confirmation was available on the details.
However, chief government spokesman Nobutaka Machimura told reporters "Japan wants to unveil an environmental initiative in East Asia" at the upcoming summit.
Environmental pollution is worsening in Asia as its economies grow rapidly. China and India are also participating in the East Asia summit.
Japan has long relied on aid as a key tool of its foreign policy and considers Southeast Asia a key region to exert influence.
Japan, home of the Kyoto Protocol, has earlier promised aid for developing nations to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.
- AFP/yb
