A MYANMAR Tatmadaw goodwill delegation led by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing left Yangon International Airport on the morning of 8 October to make a goodwill visit to Japan at the invitation of Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self -Defence Forces General Koji Yamasaki.
The Myanmar Tatmadaw delegation arrived at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan in the evening and they were welcomed by Myanmar Ambassador to Japan U Myint Thu, Colonel Ishiwata of Japan Defence Ministry, President of Nippon Foundation Mr Yohei Sasakawa, President of Japan-Myanmar Friendship Association Mr Hideo Watanabe, Myanmar Military Attaché (Army, Navy and Air) Col Tin Soe and officials at the airport.
On the morning of 9 October Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was welcomed by Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self -Defence Forces General Koji Yamasaki with a guard of honor.
On arrival at the welcoming ceremony location, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and party were cordially greeted by Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self -Defence Forces. Next, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services accepted the salute of Guard of Honour and then inspected the Guard of Honour.
Afterward, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing held a meeting with Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self -Defence Forces General Koji Yamasaki in the guest hall.
During the meeting increasing the existing friendship between the militaries of Myanmar and Japan, increasing cooperation in defence matters, sending of trainees, internal peace, world peace and protecting from and preventing natural disaster were cordially discussed and views exchanged.

Following this an official from Japan Self-Defence Forces explained about defence matters conducted by Japan Defence Ministry, status of conducting regional security matters, status of good relation and cooperation between Myanmar and Japan and responded to questions raised by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.

Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self -Defence Forces then hosted a luncheon for the Myanmar Tatmadaw goodwill delegation led by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services at Grand Hill Ichigaya Hotel.

In the afternoon Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing called on Japan Prime Minister Mr Shinzo Abe at the Prime Minister’s office.

At the meeting increasing cooperation between the two militaries, occurrence of terrorist acts in Rakhine State and Tatmadaw controlling the situation according to the law, status of Tatmadaw making a unilateral ceasefire and conducting peace meetings, cooperating in regional and world peace, status of increasing bilateral cooperation, assistant provided by Japan toward modernizing Myanmar Tatmadaw, a long history of friendly relation between the two militaries and status of increasing and strengthening this was cordially discussed.

After the meeting Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services and party went to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and met with Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Toshimitsu Motegi.

Matters relating to Rakhine State affairs and Japan’s support and assistance to peace process, history of armed organizations being established and differing situations, status of efforts made to resettle displaced persons to their places of origin, views on Indo-Pacific region security, facing regional threats, cooperation required among all countries toward establishing a world free of nuclear and high destructive arms, Myanmar Tatmadaw’s cooperation toward independent commission of enquiry and responsibilities of all armed forces to protect the security of the country and the people were cordially discussed according to news released by Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief Office.

Photo - OFFICE OF C-IN-C OF DEFENCE SERVICES