Japanese FM to Visit Burma

Japanese FM Koichiro Gemba(L) and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shake hands on December 19, 2011, at the US Department of State in Washington,DC. (Photo: GETTY IMAGES)

WASHINGTON—Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba will travel to Burma next week, as he and his American counterpart, Hillary Clinton, agree to deepen their coordination to ensure the continuation of positive trends in this Southeast Asian nation.
“I am encouraged by the progress in democratization and national reconciliation in Myanmar,” Gemba told reporters at a joint news conference with Clinton.
“Secretary Clinton visited Myanmar earlier this month, and I will visit there next week,” said Gemba who is on his first trip to the US in the capacity of foreign secretary. The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including the death of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il.
“Against this backdrop, we agree to deepen coordination between Japan and the United States so that this positive trend will be further solidified in Myanmar,” Gemba said.
Responding to the statement, Clinton said, “I welcome the news that the foreign minister will soon visit Burma.
“We now have a real opportunity through sustained diplomacy to test the new government and to overcome the obstacles in the way to Burma achieving its rightful place in the community of nations,” she said.
Later in the day, diplomats of India, Japan and the United States met at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department for their first ever trilateral dialogue, during which developments in Burma was one of the major issues of discussion.
“Later today, Japanese and US officials will meet with counterparts from India for our first ever trilateral meeting, and the United States supports a meeting between Japan, China, and ourselves, as Foreign Minister Gemba recently proposed,” Clinton said.
Asked about India's role, Gemba said the US and Japan have affirmed to deepen their strategic relationship with India. “As a specific example of collaboration, the Japan-US-India trilateral dialogue will be held at the working level here in Washington DC today,” he said.
“Due to the most recent developments, we are seeing an increasing level of interest in and attention to how the process of dealing with the abduction issue develops in Japan. I expressed my gratitude to the consistent support extended by the United States for raising the abduction issue every time during the US-North Korea dialogue,” said the Japanese Foreign Minister in reference to the alleged kidnapping on Japanese soil of a number of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents between 1977 and 1983.
“Moreover, taking into account this new situation, I ask for continuous understanding and support from the United States for resolving the issue. Also, when we look at the Asia-Pacific region, trust and cooperation among Japan, the United States, and China is critical for ensuring stability in the region. With this in mind, I proposed to Secretary Clinton to launch a trilateral dialogue among these three countries, and in response, Secretary Clinton shares my view,” he said.

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