Japan-Myanmar Relations

September 2009

Mekong-Japan Exchange Year

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:

Established in November 1954

Number of Residents:

Number of Japanese Nationals residing in Myanmar: 635 (Oct. 2004)

Number of Myanmar Nationals residing in Japan: 5,600 (Dec. 2003)

Trade with Japan (2004 Fiscal Year):

Exports: 19.4 billion yen (marine products (esp. prawn), sesame, pulse, timber)

Imports: 11.3 billion yen (transportation machinery, construction machinery)

Direct Investment from Japan:

Cumulative total from 1988 to 2003: $212.57 million

Japan's Economic Cooperation:

List of Exchange of Notes

Loans: 0

Grants: 992 million yen (2003 Fiscal Year)

Technical Cooperation: 1.65 billion yen (2003 Fiscal Year)

VIP Visits

From Japan to Myanmar (since 1995)

Year	Name
Oct. 1997	State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura
Oct. 2002	Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi
Jun. 2003	Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Yano

From Myanmar to Japan (since 1995)

Year	Name
Oct. 1995	Vice-Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council, General Maung Aye
Nov. 1995	Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Ohn Gyaw
May 1996	Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Ohn Gyaw
Jun. 1998	Deputy Prime Minister, Vice Admiral Maung Maung Khin
Jun. 1999	Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Win Aung
Jun. 2000	Secretary 1 of the State Peace and Development Council, General Khin Nyunt
Jul. 2003	Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Khin Maung Win
Dec. 2003	Prime Minister, General Khin Nyunt
Dec. 2003	Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Win Aung
May 2005	Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Nyan Win

Cultural Grant (cumulative total fiscal 1975-2004)

404.2 million yen (Cultural Grant Aid)

• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Situation in Myanmar (Release of Political Prisoners) (September 2009)
• Meeting Between H.E. Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Mr. Htay Oo, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation of the Union of Myanmar (Outline) (August 2009)
• Statement by Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the situation in Myanmar (statement and action of house arrest against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi) (August 2009)
• Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Japan and the Union of Myanmar (May 2009)
• Foreign Ministers' Telephone Conversation between Japan and the Union of Myanmar (May 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the situation in Myanmar (lawsuit against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi) (May 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Situation in Myanmar (Release of Political Prisoners) (February 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Situation in Myanmar (Sentence of Imprisonment against Political Activists) (November 2008)
• Cyclone Disaster in the Union of Myanmar (May 2008)
• Observation of National Referendum on Draft Constitution by Diplomatic Corps in Myanmar (May 2008)
• Meeting between Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General (March 2008)
• Talks between Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General, Mr. Mitoji Yabunaka, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Kenichiro Sasae, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (March 2008)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Situation in Myanmar (February 2008)
• Japan-Mekong Foreign Ministers' Meeting (January 2008)
  • Meeting of Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and U Nyan Win, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar (January 21, 2008)
• Visit to Japan by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General (October 2007)
  • Meeting between Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General (October 26, 2007)
  • Dinner hosted by Mr. Osamu Uno, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, for Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General (October 26, 2007)
  • Meeting between Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General, and Mr. Mitoji Yabunaka, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (October 26, 2007)
• Statement by Press Secretary on the United Nations Security Council Presidential Statement on the Situation in Myanmar (October 2007)
• Statement by Press Secretary on the Current Situation in Myanmar (September 2007)
• Emergency Grant Aid to Myanmar (Assistance for Vaccination against Polio) (September 2007)
• Visit to Japan by Dr. Ibrahim Gambari, Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General (July 2007)
• Emergency Assistance for the Cyclone Disaster in the Western Part of the Union of Myanmar (June 2007)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Continuation of the Detention under House Arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar (May 2007)
• Assistance for United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security project "Support to ex-poppy farmers and poor vulnerable families in border areas" Project in Myanmar (January 2007)
• Emergency Grant Aid to Myanmar (Assistance for Vaccination against Polio) (July 2006)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Continuation of the Detention under House Arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar (May 2006)
• Major projects of Japan's Initiative for the Mekong Region Development (December 2005)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Continuation of the Detention under House Arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar (November 2005)
• Japan-Myanmar Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Japan-Laos Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Japan-CLV (Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam) Foreign Ministers' Working Dinner and Japan-Thailand Foreign Ministers' Meeting (November 2004)
• Emergency Aid for Cyclone Disaster in the Western Part of the Union of Myanmar (May 2004)
• Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on Reconvening of the National Convention of Myanmar (May 2004)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Government of Myanmar's Announcement of the Timing for Holding its National Convention (March 2004)
• Assistance for Seed Multiplication in Myanmar (December 2003)
• Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Present Situations in Myanmar (June 2003)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on Protective Custody of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD members by the Myanmar Government (June 2003)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Release of the Political Detainees in Myanmar (May 2003)
• Assistance for Opium Poppy Eradication in the Shan State of the Union of Myanmar by the Trust Fund for Human Security (March 2003)
• Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Release of the Political Detainees in Myanmar (November 2002)
• Bilateral Summit Meetings between Japan and the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Union of Myanmar (Summary) (November 2002)
• Emergency Assistance for Flood Disaster in the midland of Myanmar (September 2002)
• Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi's Attendance to ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conferences, and Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting of Japan, China and the R.O.K. and to Visit Singapore and Myanmar (July 2002)
• Grant Assistance to Myanmar for the Project for Rehabilitation for Baluchaung No. 2 Hydro Power Plant (May 2002)
• Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi Concerning the Situation in the Union of Myanmar and the Lifting of Restrictions on the Movements of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (May 2002)
• Yangon Workshop on Japan-Myanmar Cooperation for Structural Adjustment of the Myanmar Economy (November 2001)
• Japan-Myanmar Summit Meeting on the Occasion of ASEAN+3 (Outline) (November 2001)
• Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms. Makiko Tanaka on Release of Political Detainees in Myanmar (October 2001)
• Statement at the Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary Mr. Yasuo Fukuda -Release of Political Prisoners in Myanmar- (June 2001)
• Statement by Mr. Yohei Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Release of Members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) of Myanmar (January 2001)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Complete Reopening of Universities in Myanmar (July 2000)
• Japan's Position Regarding the Situation in Myanmar (March, 1997)

Press Secretary's Press Conference/Media FAQ on Myanmar

• Embassy of Japan in Myanmar Web Site
• Embassy of Myanmar in Japan Web Site