Japan plans to forgive Burma’s debt.

The news about the debt forgiveness comes after Japan earlier in the day pledged about $7.4 billion in development aid and expertise to five countries in the Mekong River region: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma. It was their fourth summit sinc

TOKYO — Japan said Saturday that it will take steps to forgive about $3.7 billion of Burma’s debt and resume fullfledged development aid as a way to support the country’s democratic and economic changes.

The government made the announcement after a meeting between Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Burma President Thein Sein after a summit with leaders from the five nations of the Mekong River region.

Burma’s military junta last year handed power to a nominally civilian government that has surprised the world with a series of sweeping political and economic overhauls, including releasing prominent political prisoners and allowing democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi to contest recent parliamentary by-elections.

“Reforms in [Burma] are steadily moving forward. As [Burma] approaches a crucial stage in its democratization, Japan will all the more encourage [Burma’s] efforts to reform,” Noda said at a news conference with Thein Sein. “We hereby pledge to strengthen our assistance to the country so that the Burmese people will be able to enjoy the fruit of its reforms.”

Burma owes Japan about $6.1 billion from past development loans.

Of that amount, the Japanese government said in a statement that it will cancel $1.56 billion in loans due after April 2003. It will also forgive $2.16 billion in overdue charges accumulated over the past two decades after one year’s time as the two countries jointly monitor policy changes.

Japan does not have sanctions on Burma, although it cut most government aid in 2003 after Suu Kyi was put under house arrest, which ended in November. Japan was Burma’s largest aid donor until 2003 and has continued small amounts of humanitarian grass-roots aid in health and education.

“On behalf of the [Burma] government and its people, I would like to express my gratitude to Japanese government officials and the people of Japan,” Thein Sein said.

“The resolution of [Burma]’s debt issues as well as our cooperation and aid will be effective and helpful for the people’s efforts for the development and reform of [Burma].”

Japanese companies had held back from investing in resource-rich Burma because they didn’t want to upset relations with the United States and the European Union, which have imposed sanctions on the country, and because of the lack of transparency in business laws.

Recently, there have been moves toward the lifting of Western sanctions. On Monday, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg are expected to lift temporarily most sanctions against Burma.

Thein Sein told Japanese business leaders Friday that his country is eager for their investment and know-how to help his country grow.

Earlier this month, the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Daiwa Securities Group said they had agreed with Burma’s central bank to help establish a stock market by 2015. On Thursday, NTT Data Corp. said it will establish a subsidiary in Rangoon, citing the country’s “large potential.” All Nippon Airways Co. is also preparing to add service to Burma this fiscal year.

The news about the debt forgiveness comes after Japan earlier in the day pledged about $7.4 billion in development aid and expertise to five countries in the Mekong River region: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma. It was their fourth summit since leaders first met in 2009.

By strengthening its ties with Burma and other Mekong region countries, Japan is also looking to counter China’s growing influence in the region.

Noda emphasized continued cooperation with the region, saying, “The stability and development of East Asia is not possible without the stability and development of the Mekong region.” Information for this article was contributed by Emily Wang of The Associated Press.