Press Releases

1. The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) by the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) in Naypyidaw, the capital city of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, on February 13 (same day local time) as a positive step toward achieving national reconciliation in Myanmar.

2. At the signing ceremony, Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar, signed as a witness from Japan, reflecting the fact that Special Envoy Sasakawa has been undertaking a variety of cooperation while consulting the relevant parties on the Myanmar side.

3. The Government of Japan attaches importance to advancing the peace process in Myanmar, and to providing support for the living environments of the residents and resettling repatriated residents of the regions where the NCA has been signed. Up to now the Government of Japan has been coordinating with Japanese NGOs such as the Nippon Foundation to construct such as homes, schools, hospitals, bridges, mainly in Kayin State. In the future, it will undertake reconstruction and development support in consultation with the Government of Myanmar and regional governments and expand the coverage of its support to residents who had been affected by the conflict including in Mon State.

4. Achieving peace and national reconciliation in Myanmar is extremely important for the stability and peace of the Indo-Pacific region. The Government of Japan strongly hopes that more of Myanmar’s citizens will experience peace as a result of the Government of Myanmar, the military and ethnic armed groups realizing the NCA and advancing the peace process.