Press Releases
Japan-Brunei Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
August 12, 2021
On August 12, commencing at 10:00 a.m. for 30 minutes, Mt. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, held a telephone talk with Dato Seri Setia Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof, Minister of Foreign Affairs II, Brunei Darussalam. The overview of the talk is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Motegi expressed respect to the leadership of Brunei as the ASEAN Chair at the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. In addition, Minister Motegi stated that he will continue to coordinate closely with Brunei towards the Summit Meeting in Autumn.
- Minister Motegi congratulated Minister Erywan, with whom Minister Motegi has been in close contact on the situation in Myanmar, on his appointment as the ASEAN Special Envoy. Furthermore, Minister Motegi, noting that having telephone conversations immediately after his appointment is very valuable, stated that Japan will fully support his acitivities as the Special Envoy.
- Minister Erywan explained the situation in Myanmar, his future activities as the Special Envoy, and other matters. Minister Motegi expressed Japan’s high expectations on the concrete action of the Special Envoy, while pointing out the necessity for the Special Envoy to visit Myanmar without delay and speak not only with the Myanmar military but also with pro-democracy groups, and the importance of communication with the international community. In response, Minister Erywan stated that he will keep in mind Japan’s advice in carrying out his mission as the Special Envoy.
- In addition, Minister Motegi pointed out the importance of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, and stated that, since the coup in Feburuary, Japan has taken the initiative ahead of other countries and provided over 20 million dollars of humanitarian assistance. In response, Minister Erywan stated that he highly values these initiatives, and that he would further cooperate with Japan in humanitarian assistance as well. The two ministers concurred to continue working in close coordination in order to turn around the situation in Myanmar.