Press Releases

1. On March 31 it was announced that a basic agreement had been reached between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), an alliance of ethnic armed groups, on the content of the text of a National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

2. Japan sincerely welcomes this agreement as a major step toward achieving national reconciliation in Myanmar.

3. Under the policy of the “Proactive Contribution to Peace” based on the principle of international cooperation, thus far the Government of Japan, along with Yohei Sasakawa, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar, has been supporting in various ways the process toward achieving national reconciliation between the Government of Myanmar and ethnic minorities. In January last year Japan announced support up to 10 billion yen over a period of five years, and is also striving to improve livelihoods in conflict-affected areas.

4. Japan strongly hopes that as a result of this agreement the signing of NCA will be realized promptly, and lead to the peace and stability of Myanmar overall, including ethnic minority areas.

5. Japan also intends to continue to extend its utmost support for Myanmar’s peace process, following the path of a peaceful nation for the 70 years since the end of World War II, and based on its experience of contributing to the peace and development in Asia and the world.