Press Conferences

Toba, Nippon TV: My question concerns Myanmar’s general election. Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) is viewed as likely to win the election. To begin with, what are your views on this?

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs: First, a general election took place in Myanmar on November 8, and I have received a report that the election was held peacefully overall. Although the official results of the election have not been announced yet, I would like to welcome the holding of the election as an important step for the advancement of democratization.

The Government of Japan dispatched an election observer mission headed by Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar, to support a free and fair election. And I hope that a free and fair election will be firmly confirmed, the results of that election will be solidly accepted by the concerned parties, and democratization and further reforms will progress in Myanmar. The Government of Japan will continue supporting the various reform efforts in Myanmar, and advance the traditional relationship of friendship and cooperation also.

Toba, Nippon TV: This question concerns Japan and Australia. The Turnbull Administration was launched in September. How does Japan intend to promote the Japan-Australia relationship with the new administration in the future, based also on issues such as China’s advances in the South China Sea?

Minister Kishida: The Japan-Australia relationship is a very important bilateral relationship for Japan, and I recognize that the bilateral cooperation also has importance in bringing the peace, stability, and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. The Turnbull Administration is underway, and fundamentally, I will continue with dialogues and efforts for advancing the relationship in various areas, including not only security but the economy and other fields also, in order to continue to firmly promote the important bilateral relationship between Japan and Australia.

Odanaka, Mainichi Shimbun: A high-level week will commence from next week, including the G20. The fact is that various countries’ leaders will come together, but at the present point in time, how is coordination going on for bilateral summit meetings, such as with Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation?

Minister Kishida: The Prime Minister’s diplomatic schedules and his attendance at the various international conferences that are scheduled have not been specifically decided at the present point in time. Consequently, at present nothing specific has been decided regarding bilateral meetings to be held on the sidelines of those conferences either. In any event, the Government of Japan attaches importance to dialogue with the various countries concerned.