Japan-Myanmar Relations

1. At the outset, Prime Minister Abe welcomed Speaker Win Myint’s visit to Japan for the first time, expressed his respect for progress and achievement of democratization and stated that Japan will continue to cooperate for democratization and economic development of Myanmar.

2. Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan will accelerate cooperation focusing on development of Yangon, transportation and electricity and reiterated Japan’s contribution to provide assistance up to 125 billion JPY to Myanmar, which had been announced in the meeting with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in November. He also noted that Japan stands ready to provide its maximum support to the efforts for improving the situation in Rakhine State, including return of displace persons. Prime Minister Abe conveyed his intention to continuously facilitate progress of the peace process with the ethnic minorities, with collaboration by Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar.

3. In response, Speaker Win Myint expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support for democratization, national reconciliation, peace process and social and economic development of Myanmar and his wish for further deepening of friendship and cooperation between the governments, parliaments and people of both countries.

4. Prime Minister Abe also stated that Japan cannot tolerate the launch of an intercontinental-class ballistic missile by North Korea and requested Myanmar’s cooperation for fully implementing the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Speaker Win Myint replied that Myanmar, while recognizing the importance of nonproliferation and elimination of nuclear weapons, cooperates to steadily implement the United Nations Security Council resolutions, in the spirit of contributing to peace and stability in the region.