Courtesy Call by Mr. Soe Thane, Minister for Industry of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, on Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs
May 25, 2012
Japanese
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On Friday, May 25, Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, received a courtesy call from Mr. Soe Thane, Minister for Industry of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. An overview of the meeting is as follows.
- Minister Gemba remarked that he had touched upon Myanmar in his keynote speech at the 18th International Conference on the Future of Asia the previous day, and said that at the G8 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting as well, he had led discussion on Myanmar, stating that its progress toward democratization and national reconciliation should be highly regarded and that the international community should come together as one to support reform in the country while also stressing that it was important that the people of Myanmar feel that if they advance reform, the country would prosper. Furthermore, Minister Gemba noted that he had participated in a significant exchange of opinions with H.E. Mr. Thein Sein, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, H.E. Mr. Wunna Maung Lwin, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi when he visited Myanmar last December. He also commented that he had sat next to President Thein Sein at the welcome dinner during the President’s visit to Japan in April and that he had participated in a beneficial exchange of opinions then as well.
- In response, Minister Soe Thane thanked Minister Gemba for his remarks at the G8 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and for the variety of support extended by Japan. He said that Myanmar would continue its efforts toward democratization and national reconciliation, and stated his hopes for investment from abroad in order to advance that reform, particularly from Japanese companies moving into the country.
- In addition, the two ministers had an exchange of opinions on the state of the situation of electricity supply in Myanmar and peace with national races, among other issues.
- (*The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original press release in Japanese.)
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