Asia Beat

DALIAN, China (Nikkei)--More and more municipal governments in China are requiring foreigners to pay social security premiums.

WASHINGTON (Kyodo)--The United States on Monday announced partial removal of economic sanctions against Myanmar, allowing the International Monetary Fund and other multilateral financial institutions to provide assistance to the country.

SHANGHAI (Dow Jones)--The International Monetary Fund cut its forecast for China's economic growth this year to 8.25% from the 9.0% expansion projected in September, citing the threat of weakening exports amid an uncertain global environment.

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Japan and Myanmar will begin negotiations Feb. 14 on an investment agreement designed to spur Japanese firms' participation in infrastructure projects in the Southeast Asian nation.

SEOUL (Kyodo)--Eight South Korean lawmakers plan to visit the joint inter-Korean industrial complex in the North Korean border city of Kaesong on Friday, South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesman said Monday.