Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2014 April 2 - 8 [JCP]

Ogata meets with political party executives in Myanmar

Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Ogata Yasuo, who was visiting Myanmar as the first JCP delegate to do so, on March 31 in Yangon met with political party executives and they agreed to keep in touch with each other.

At the head office of the National League for Democracy, Myanmar’s largest opposition party led by Aung San Suu Kyi, Ogata had talks with NLD central executive committee member Hantha Myint.

Ogata explained the JCP’s political position in Japan and its basic policies as well as its international policies such as supporting sovereign independence. He added that the JCP seeks to establish a security environment in Asia through peaceful approaches, including dialogues and the creation of mutual trust.

Citing that Myanmar used to play a role in promoting the Non-Aligned Movement, Ogata expressed his hope that the nation again actively works for peace in the region.

The NLD spokesperson said that his party calls for peaceful diplomacy based on talks and mutual understanding. He also took up topics regarding national politics such as the general election scheduled to be held in 2015.

In talks with two executives of the National Unity Party, another major political party in Myanmar, Ogata introduced the JCP’s basic policies and said that he notes ASEAN has made great efforts to maintain regional peace.

One of the two NUP executives, Thein Tun, stressed that Myanmar actively took part in the first Asian-African Conference held in Indonesia’s Bandung in 1955 and in the Non-Aligned Movement.

Later on the same day, the JCP vice chair also met with retired diplomat Maung Maung Gyi, who served as Myanmar Ambassador to Japan, to South Korea, and to the United States. They exchanged their views on various issues such as Myanmar’s diplomatic position based on a non-aligned, peaceful coexistence policy.