Press Releases
State Foreign Minister Nakane Meets with Commander-in Chief of the Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar
On November 20 (local time), Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services of Myanmar, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar where the State Minister is visiting to attend the ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. At the outset, State Minister Nakane stated that he was honored to meet the Commander-in-Chief, that he recognized the role of the Armed Forces as important especially for peace process and national reconciliation as Myanmar approaches two-year mark of the inauguration of the current government, and that Japan will continue to provide maximum assistance for rooting democracy and advancing economic development in Myanmar.
2. With regard to the situation in Rakhine State, State Minister Nakane emphasized the importance for Myanmar to explain its own efforts to the international community. Regarding the alleged reports on human rights abuses, he took note of the investigation carried out by the Armed Forces and urged the Commander-in-Chief to take measures as necessary. In addition, the State Minister noted that the resumption of humanitarian access by the World Food Programme (WFP) represented an important progress, and that the Government of Japan will continue to provide maximum cooperation for peace and stability in Myanmar, including Rakhine State.
3. In response, Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing appreciated Japan’s longstanding cooperation to Myanmar and explained that the Myanmar is ready to accept the displaced persons in Bangladesh based upon the result of scrutiny and regarding the alleged reports on human rights abuses he will take measures as necessary in accordance with law.
4. The two sides also reaffirmed the importance of defense cooperation and exchanges between the two countries that focus on deepening the understanding of the role of the military in a democratic nation.