Japan on Friday welcomed a UN Security Council statement denouncing Myanmar’s violent crackdown on protests and called for the junta to improve its human rights record.

“We welcome it, as it was issued with the consensus of the international community,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said.

“We hope that the government of Myanmar would improve its democratisation efforts and human rights conditions by responding to the efforts of UN special envoy (Ibrahim) Gambari,” said Machimura, the top government spokesman.

Gambari, the UN point man in efforts to promote reconciliation between Myanmar’s military regime and opposition, was due to head back to the region this weekend.

In its non-binding presidential statement, the UN Security Council deplored Myanmar’s crackdown, urged the release of all political prisoners and called for “genuine dialogue” with detained pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

China, Myanmar’s main ally, joined the unanimous statement, the first action by the Security Council since the clampdown that left 13 dead, including a Japanese video journalist shot by junta troops while covering protests.

But Japan, which often jostles for influence in the region with China, has broken ranks with its Western allies by refusing to suspend humanitarian aid to Myanmar.

Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Tokyo will work to promote democracy in Myanmar.

“The government will coordinate efforts with the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to make progress in the democratisation of Myanmar,” Komura said.