Visiting Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi told reporters Tuesday that she appreciates Japan's "straightforward" discussion on its concerns over Muslim refugees from the Southeast Asian country's Rakhine state after meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.

Thousands of Rohingya Muslims have become stateless refugees after fleeing from violent ethnic clashes and many were allegedly attacked by the Myanmar military.

Suu Kyi, formerly a leader of a democratic movement in the country and now Myanmar's de facto civilian leader, has faced criticism from Western media and human rights activists for her apparent inaction to stop reported atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims.