Asia
Meeting Between Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services of Myanmar
On September 26, commencing at 7:30 p.m. for approximately 90 minutes, Mr. Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary, met with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, who was visiting Japan upon invitation by the Chief of Joint Staff of the Self-Defense Forces. An overview of the meeting is as follows (attending from the Japanese side included Mr. Hideo Watanabe, Chairman of the Japan Myanmar Association, Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar, and Mr. Hiroto Izumi, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister):
1. Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga stated that the Government of Japan welcomed reforms in Myanmar and would continue to support Myanmar’s efforts for democratization, strengthening of rule of law, national reconciliation, economic reforms, and infrastructure development in Myanmar in collaboration with Japanese private sector. Particularly, Mr. Suga introduced that the Government of Japan had supported peace negotiations between the Myanmar Government and ethnic minorities in cooperation with Mr. Sasakawa, the Special Envoy of the Government of Japan, under the policy of “Proactive Contribution to Peace,” and expressed his expectation toward constructive roles of the Defence Services of Myanmar. Moreover, Mr. Suga stated that in this important year of the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relationship between Japan and Myanmar and Myanmar’s ASEAN presidency, Japan would like to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with Myanmar.
2. In response, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services of Myanmar, expressed his gratitude for the support from Japan, gave an explanation on the reforms in Myanmar, particularly efforts by the Defence Services of Myanmar for peace and stability of the country, and expressed his expectation toward Japan, stating that in order for such efforts to achieve an effect, continuous cooperation from Japan would be necessary.
