Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi's Visit to Myanmar
(Overview and Evaluation)

August 6, 2002
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The following is an overview of the official visit made by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi to Myanmar from August 3 to 5.

1. Overview

(1) Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's visit was the first by an incumbent Japanese foreign minister in 19 years and the first by any incumbent G8 foreign minister to the country under the current Myanmar government established in 1989. She met with both senior members of the Myanmar government and with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Leader of the democratic force in the country. As U.N.S.G. Special Envoy Tan Sri Razali, whose efforts Japan had been strongly supporting, was visiting Myanmar at the same time, Minister Kawaguchi took that opportunity to exchange views with him as well.

(2) In her talks both with the government leaders and with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi welcomed the recent moves toward democratization in Myanmar and stressed the following points:

1. Basic Concepts of Japan's Policy toward Myanmar
   - Many Japanese people feel a strong historical affinity with Myanmar and the people.
   - Because of its geopolitically important position, Myanmar's stable development is vital for the stability and prosperity of the surrounding region.
   - Japan desires to develop Japan-Myanmar ties into one of the key bilateral relationships in the Japan-ASEAN framework. In this context, it is important for Myanmar to promote democratization.
2. Encouragement for Both Parties (the government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi) to Advance "Policy Dialogue" and Develop it to "Political Dialogue"
   - Japan intends to support both democratization and nation building of Myanmar. Accordingly, Japan is willing to actively expand its assistance, in response to further positive moves, mainly in the field of basic human needs (BHN), paying due considerations to what are required in Myanmar.
   - Japan calls on the leaders of the government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to advance "policy dialogue in humanitarian areas" and to develop this to "political dialogue." Japan hopes that, through their dialogue, the two parties come up with specific projects, which the people of Myanmar really need. Japan is prepared to actively support such projects.
3. Importance of Economic Reforms
   - In order for Myanmar to achieve development in this region, it is imperative to invite foreign investment through carrying out economic reforms and enhancing transparency of the economic policy. From that perspective, Japan expects that the policy recommendations of "Economic Structural Adjustment of the Myanmar Economy," for which Japan and Myanmar are currently collaborating, (due to be completed in December 2002) will be incorporated in actual policies.
4. Reconciliation with Ethnic Minorities (only to the government)
   - Japan hopes that the government of Myanmar will make even greater efforts toward reconciliation with ethnic minorities in order to achieve stable nation building.

(3) To the above-mentioned points that Minister Kawaguchi raised in the meetings, the government responded that they had already been in "the dialogue" with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi over various issues, and that they would do their best despite difficulties of various kinds. Meanwhile, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi stated that the political dialogue with the government had not begun yet, but that National League for Democracy (NLD) was ready to move forward. She also stated that she would not oppose foreign assistance which will reach the really needy people, adding that transparency and accountability must be guaranteed in that process.

2. Evaluation

(1) With the more positive mood seen since the lifting of restrictions on the movement of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on May 6, Minister Kawaguchi visited Myanmar at the same time as U.N.S.G. Special Envoy Tan Sri Razali. She confirmed the present status of the democratization process both with government leaders and with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and called directly on both parties to make further efforts. With a view to making the current moves irreversible, this visit was a most timely one.

(2) Minister Kawaguchi conveyed the message that "If progress in 'policy dialogue in the humanitarian areas' between the government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi brings to light BHN projects which the people of Myanmar really need, Japan is prepared to actively support such projects." This is a manifestation of "effective use of aid in diplomacy" with regard to Japan's responsibility in the international community.

(3) As part of Minister Kawaguchi's philosophy of consulting with people involved on the ground, she held exchanges of opinion with Japanese residents in Myanmar, Japanese non-governmental organizations, and former Myanmar students who studied in Japan, and confirmed the Japanese government's determination to strengthen cooperation with both these groups. This was meaningful from the point of view of promoting Japan-Myanmar relations at a wide range of levels, including the business and grassroots level.

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