At the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi left Nay Pyi Taw for Japan to attend the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit to be held in Tokyo of Japan and to hold discussions with Japanese leaders on October 5. Myanmar delegation arrived at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo at 5.55 LST, according to the statement by Myanmar Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Myanmar delegation led by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was welcomed at the airport by Mr. Hiroto Izumi, Special Advisor to the Japanese Prime Minister, Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr. Ichiro Maruyama, Myanmar Ambassador to Japan Thurein Thant Zin and wife, Myanmar military attaché Brig-Gen Saw Min and wife and officials.

The State Counsellor was accompanied by Union Minister for the Office of the Union Government Thaung Tun, Union Minister for International Cooperation Kyaw Tin, Deputy Minister for the President’s Office Min Thu, Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance Set Aung and high-ranking officers and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the statement by the Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will serve as chair at the Mekong-Japan Summit which will be attended by Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the Prime Ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Mekong-Japan Summit Meeting has been held every year since 2009 to strengthen the relationship between Japan and the Mekong countries, and for the sustainable development of and narrowing the development gap within the Mekong region. The Summit is held once every three years in Japan, and this is one of those years.

At this year’s Summit, the leaders will exchange their views, for further strong growth and development, mainly on the following three areas: (a) Connectivity, (b) People and (c) Environment. Subsequently, the leaders will formulate new principle for the Mekong-Japan cooperation.

During her tour, Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi will hold a separate talk with the Japanese Prime Minister.