PRESS RELEASES

ASEAN-Related Senior Officials Meetings in Yangon

12 June 2014

    On 8-9 June, Senior Officials Meetings (SOM) for ASEAN Plus Three (APT), East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) were held in Yangon, Myanmar, and SOM leaders of member countries/organs attended the meetings. From the Government of Japan, Mr. Makita Shimokawa, Deputy Director-General of Asian and Oceanian Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,attended as Japan's SOM leader, together with H.E. Mr. Koichi Aiboshi, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN, and other officials. For the SOM for Friends of Lower Mekong Initiative (FLMI), which was jointly organized by Myanmar and the United States, Ambassador Aiboshi was the head of Japanese Delegation.

    During the meetings, active exchanges of views took place on such regional and international issues as the situation of South China Sea, North Korean issue, the situation of Thailand etc. Discussions were also held on the proposals of upcoming seminars and workshops that were planned under respective regional frameworks. Preparations for the ASEAN related Ministerial Meetings, which will be held in August in Nay Pyi Taw, were also discussed.

    With regard to Japan's cooperation under the framework of ASEAN+3, Mr. Shimokawa explained it in a TV interview by one of Myanmar's TV stations.