October 25, 2019

At the invitation of the Government of Japan, the Myanmar delegation led by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi paid an official visit to Japan from 20 to 24 October 2019 to attend the enthronement ceremony of Japanese Emperor Naruhito. The delegation comprised of Union Minister for Office of the State Counsellor U Kyaw Tint Swe, Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance U Set Aung and senior officials from the President Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The State Counsellor and party left the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport in the morning of 20 October 2019 and arrived at the Haneda International Airport in Tokyo at 9:50 pm local time. They were welcomed by Special Advisor to Prime Minister of Japan Mr Hiroto Izumi, Protocol Chief of Japan Mr. Kiminori Iwama, Myanmar Ambassador to Japan U Myint Thu, Myanmar Military Attaché Colonel Tin Soe, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Myanmar diplomatic staffs and family members at the airport.

In the morning of 21 October 2019, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the State Guest House in Tokyo. The meeting focused on matters pertaining to promotion of bilateral relations and cooperation between Myanmar and Japan, fostering of economic cooperation between the two countries, including the Thilawa Speical Economic Zone, continued support of Japan to the Myanmar Government’s efforts in the peace process and the Rakhine issue, and collaboration in the regional and international arenas.

In the afternoon, the State Counsellor received Mr Kazushige Nobutani, President of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and party at the Meiji Kinenkan Hall in Tokyo. They discussed matters on the promotion of investments by Japanese companies and businesspersons in Myanmar, especially in agriculture, livestock and manufacturing sectors, and JETRO’s projects in Myanmar.

Subsequently, the State Counsellor attended the “2nd Myanmar Investment Conference” organized by JETRO in the Meiji Kinenkan Hall and delivered a keynote speech. In her speech, the State Counsellor explained about the various aspects of the ongoing liberalization of Myanmar’s economy, the goals, the plans of action and the commitments of the Myanmar government for economic development and foreign investment, the opportunities of investment in Myanmar and the status of Japanese investments in Myanmar. She also invited Japanese companies and businesspersons to make more investments in Myanmar.

In the second part of the conference, Union Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe explained about Myanmar’s economic and investment policy reforms, and incentive offers to investors expressed in the Myanmar Investment Law and Myanmar Companies Law. Then, JETRO Managing Director Mr Kazufumi Tanaka explained about Japanese companies investing in Myanmar and investment opportunities. It was followed by a panel discussion entitled “Investment and Business Climate from the Viewpoint of Japanese Companies in Myanmar”. Deputy Minister U Set Aung, Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry President U Zaw Min Win, JETRO Managing Director and officials of Japanese companies investing in Myanmar took part in the discussion. More than 700 persons, including businesspersons from Japan and Myanmar attended the 2nd Myanmar Investment Conference.

Later in the evening, the State Counsellor and party cordially met with staffs and family members of Myanmar embassy and military attaché’s office led by Myanmar Ambassador to Japan U Myint Thu at the Myanmar Embassy, and attended a dinner hosted by the Myanmar embassy.

In the morning of 22 October 2019, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi received Mr. Ichiro Aisawa, Member of the House of Representatives of Japan and Chairman of the Japan-Myanmar Parliamentary Friendship Association, at the Imperial Hotel. They cordially discussed matters on the promotion of bilateral relations and friendship between Myanmar and Japan and cooperation between the two parliaments, the contribution made by the Association to the promotion of bilateral economic cooperation, including the Thilawa Special Economic Zone, the plantation of cherry trees in Myanmar by the Association as a gesture of Myanmar-Japan friendship and the future plans by the Association in Myanmar.

The State Counsellor later met with His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan, and Queen Jetsun Pema at the hotel. During the meeting, they discussed matters on the promotion of bilateral relations between Myanmar and Bhutan, development and maintenance of cultural traditions and the exchange of visits between the two countries.

In the afternoon, the State Counsellor attended the enthronement ceremony of Japanese Emperor Naruhito held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. At the ceremony, the Emperor delivered a speech on enthronement, followed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s congratulatory remarks. The ceremony concluded after expressing congratulations by the Japanese Prime Minister and cabinet members to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

In the evening, the State Counsellor attended the dinner at the Imperial Palace hosted by the Emperor and Empress for the royalties, heads of state, heads of government and high-ranking delegates attending the enthronement ceremony. The State Counsellor had the occasion to meet the Emperor and Empress as well as Imperial Princess Yoko.

In the morning of 23 October 2019, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi gave the exclusive interviews to Mr. Tetsuya Iguchi, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Nikkei Newspaper, as well as Mr. Shinichi Nishiwaki, Deputy Editor of the Mainichi Newspaper, respectively at the hotel.

In the afternoon, the State Counsellor left the hotel for the State Guest House and met with Imperial Princess Yoko. Then, she left for the Myanmar Embassy and cordially met with government scholars and private students studying at various universities in Japan.

In the evening, the State Counsellor attended the dinner at the New Otani Hotel hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and wife to the leaders of foreign countries attending the enthronement ceremony.

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party left the Imperial Hotel for the Narita International Airport in Tokyo in the morning of 24 October 2019. They were seen off by Myanmar Ambassador to Japan U Myint Thu, Myanmar Military Attaché Colonel Tin Soe, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and staff of Myanmar embassy and military attaché’s office. The Myanmar delegation led by the State Counsellor left Tokyo by flight and arrived at the Yangon International Airport in the evening. They were welcomed by Yangon Region Government Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr. Ichiro Maruyama and officials at the airport.

The official visit of the State Counsellor to Japan to attend the enthronement ceremony of the Emperor of Japan consolidates the existing bonds of friendship and cooperation between Myanmar and Japan and the tradition of high-level interaction between leaders of the two countries. The attendance of the State Counsellor to the 2nd Myanmar Investment Conference in Tokyo also offers great opportunity to promote investments by Japanese companies and businesspersons in Myanmar and foster mutual understanding and trust between the governments and peoples of the two countries.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Nay Pyi Taw

24 October 2019