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Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Wunna Maung Lwin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Summary)

October 21, 2011

  • (Photo) Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Wunna Maung Lwin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar-1
  • (Photo) Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Wunna Maung Lwin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar-2

On Friday, October 21, Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, met and had a working dinner with H.E. Mr. Wunna Maung Lwin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, who was visiting Japan as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The gist of the event is given below.

1. Introduction

Minister Gemba noted that Minister Wunna Maung Lwin’s visit to Japan was the first time in 16 years that a foreign minister of Myanmar had visited Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government and that he would like the meeting to be a first step toward establishing a new relationship between the two countries and creating a bright, new future.

2. General discussion on bilateral relations and the issue of democratization

  1. (1) Minister Gemba noted that Japan values its relationship with the geopolitically-important Myanmar and would like to share with the country, a member of the Asia-Pacific region, democratic values necessary to create an affluent and stable region. In regard to this, he stated that he would evaluate the fact that President of Myanmar Thein Sein mentioned that he would strive to create a free and fair democratic country" " in his inauguration speech and has steadily taken subsequent steps such as continuing direct talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the fact that Mr. Harn Yawnghwe, a prominent anti-government activist residing outside of Myanmar, was recently permitted to temporarily return to Myanmar.
  2. (2) Minister Gemba also stated that it was important that the Myanmar government did not turn back from its recent movement toward democratization and that Japan would firmly support endeavors by the Myanmar government to establish a democratic society. In this regard, he evaluated the release of around 200 political prisoners as a concrete step forward and noted his hope that political prisoners would continue to be released.
  3. (3) Minister Gemba expressed hope that revisions to the Political Parties Registration Law that are currently being debated in the Myanmar national legislature to allow political parties which could not participate in last November’s general election, such as the National League for Democracy Party (NLD), to participate in future elections and that future elections will be more open.
  4. (4) In response, Minister Wunna Maung Lwin stated that amnesties will continue to be made at the appropriate time and in accordance with constitutional provisions, and that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was permitted not only to travel freely to the provinces but also to meet foreigners, and that efforts were under way to make peace with armed ethnic groups. He also noted that democracy was beginning to take root in Myanmar.

3 Follow-up on the fourmeasures

  1. (1) Minister Gemba stated that measures on four fronts ? personal exchanges, economic cooperation, the economy, and cultural exchanges, of which then Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Kikuta conveyed to the Myanmar Government during her visit in June to turn the page on its bilateral relations with Myanmar ? are steadily being implemented. He explained the current state of efforts on each front and additional measures to be taken based on recent conditions in Myanmar.
  2. (2) In terms of personal exchanges, Minister Gemba noted that Japan would continue to invite ministerial-level personnel to Japan, and following the July visit to Japan by 20 youths from various political parties in Myanmar, Japan would invite a second group from a broader range of political parties and organizations to visit Japan. Minister Gemba also said that members of the NLD would play an important role in the future of Myanmar and that he would like representatives of the party to visit Japan after the party is legitimatized.
  3. (3) Touching upon economic cooperation, Minister Gemba stated that taking note of President Thein Sein’s inaugural address in which he expressed his intension to strive to improve the lives of the people of Myanmar as well as his efforts for poverty eradication, Japan would strengthen its support for Myanmar centering on the field of basic human needs. From the perspective of supporting the establishment of market economy in Myanmar, Minister Gemba also indicated that Japan was ready to conduct a study for the Project for Construction of the Myanmar-Japan Centre for Human Resources Development (Japan Centre) at the earliest possible date, along with a survey to assess the current circumstances of the project for Rehabilitation for Baluchaung No. 2 Hydro-Power Plant, to which Japan had provided continuous support. He also stated that Japan hopes to hold policy discussions on economic cooperation with Myanmar as promptly as possible and he believes that Japan would be able to examine the possibility of providing more extensive support to Myanmar if the country achieves further substantial progress in important areas including democratization and national reconciliation.
  4. (4) In response, Minister Wunna Maung Lwin expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support and noted that preparations would be made to promptly launch studies for both the Human Resource Development Center and repairs to the Baluchaung No. 2 Hydro-Power Plant. He also expressed the opinion that issues in numerous fields including poverty elimination, agricultural development, infrastructure, energy, and human resource development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals were important.
  5. (5) Turning to cooperation in the field of economics, Minister Gemba noted that in September an investment mission comprised of members of Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) and ASEAN-Japan Centre visited Myanmar, which resulted in several groups such as sewing businesses starting to examine actual investment projects. He also noted that various other organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce of Japan, were planning to dispatch economic missions. In addition, he also stated that an economic reform workshop is expected to be held from December through January.
  6. (6) As for cultural exchanges, Minister Gemba noted that Japan plans to send not only a mission to uncover cultural exchange projects but also specialists in the field of repairing and preserving heritage in the near future and would like to conduct exchanges in the field of Buddhism. Minister Wunna Maung Lwin stated that he would welcome these proposals from Japan.

4. Others

  1. (1) Minister Gemba stated that Myanmar would continue to cooperate with the inquiry into the death of Kenji Nagai in 2007 and the return of his belongings. Minister Wunna Maung Lwin said that the death of Kenji Nagai was truly regrettable not only for him but also Myanmar.
  2. (2) The foreign ministers also exchanged views on regional issues.

(Note) H.E. Mr. Wunna Maung Lwin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, visited Japan from Thursday, October 20 to Saturday, October 22. This was the first time in 16 years, since 1995, that a foreign minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar visited Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government. During his visit to Japan, he held talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Gemba, paid courtesy calls on Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura and both the House of Representatives and House of Councilors, and held informal talks with Diet groups and business leaders.

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