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Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi visits Japan

TOKYO, April 13 (UPI) -- Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in Japan Saturday, seeking to bolster Japanese support for her nation, officials said.

Suu Kyi, who will be in Japan for a week, is scheduled to meet in Tokyo with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, the speaker of the Lower House and the president of the House of Councilors, Kyodo News reported.

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She will travel to Kyoto to give lectures at Kyoto and Ryukoku universities Monday. Kyoto University is slated to make Suu Kyi an honorary fellow and Ryukoku will present her with a doctorate.

Suu Kyi, who heads the National League for Democracy party and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, was invited to Japan by the county's Foreign Ministry.

Japanese Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso traveled to Myanmar -- formerly called Burma -- in January for talks with President Thein Sein aimed at boosting relations between the two countries.

Aso pledged at the time Japan would provide $8 billion in low-interest loans by March to support Myanmar's efforts to establish a democratic government and a market economy, officials said.

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