Myanmar and Japan agrees to establish Special Travel Arrangements

Myanmar and Japan agrees to establish Special Travel Arrangements after the official visit by the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu to Myanmar on Monday (Aug 24). He met with Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and they discussed bilateral arrangements to simplify travel between the two countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governments of the two countries will start a “Residence Track” travel arrangement, under which long-term residents will be able to travel between the two countries after complying with mandatory quarantine requirements. The “Residence Track” arrangement is intend to start as early as September.

Moreover, a “Business Track” travel arrangements will also start some time soon. Under this arrangement, business travelers will be allowed to travel to Japan for conducting business in limited areas during the mandatory quarantine for 14 days.

Minister Motegi also stated that Japan will accept students with Japanese Government Scholarship from Myanmar to enter Japan as soon as possible.

In the mid of July, Myanmar had established “fast lanes” with China for essential businesses and officials to enter into the country by making a request to the nearest Myanmar embassies in their country.

The Embassy of Myanmar in Beijing informed that it has established a fast-track system to facilitate Chinese nationals who intend to travel on urgent basis to Myanmar on the grounds of engaged commercial projects, construction, economic activities and other departmental assignments.

Myanmar had suspended operations of all international commercial flights along with border closure since March 31, just a week after first COVID-19 cases reported in the country. Since then, the government has extended the ban several times. Currently, the government has extended the restrictions on landing and flying of international flights till August 31, 2020.

In regard to COVID-19 transmission in Myanmar, the country has reported a total number of 474 confirmed cases which are under treatment and 6 patients have died due to virus. However, 341 patients who tested positive to COVID-19 have completely recovered from the virus, as of Tuesday (August 25).