Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, March 27

TOKYO -- A key figure in a document-tampering scandal involving Japan's Finance Ministry on Tuesday refused to testify on exactly how the ministry's Financial Bureau had deliberately altered the documents.

During his sworn testimony Tuesday given to the House of Councillors' Budget Committee, former national tax agency head Nobuhisa Sagawa also refused to testify on when he personally became aware of the falsification. (Japan-Document-tampering Scandal)

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YANGON -- Business communities of Myanmar and China exchanged views on bilateral cooperation in economic, trade and investment here on Monday.

The exchange was jointly-organized for the first time by the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Enterprises Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar (CECCM). (Myanmar-China-Economic Cooperation)

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PHNOM PENH -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen reiterated Tuesday there would be no talks with exiled former opposition leader Sam Rainsy and other convicted opposition politicians over political issues.

"I would like to announce that first, there will be no talks with the traitors; second, there will be no pardons or prison term reductions for these traitors," he said in a speech during a university graduation ceremony here. (Cambodia-Opposition)

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COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka has called for stronger maritime and air links with Bangladesh to boost bilateral trade and investments between the two nations, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a statement here Tuesday.

The ministry said that while the ports of Hambantota and Colombo were of vital importance to the maritime industry due to their strategic locations in the Indian Ocean, there could now be strong linkages between these ports and the port of Chittagong in Bangladesh in order to facilitate shipping, tourism and investments. (Sri Lanka-Bangladesh-Trade) Enditem