Japan-Djibouti Summit Meeting

December 20, 2010
Japanese

(Photos: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

On December 20 (Mon.), for about 70 minutes from 6:30 p.m., Prime Minister Naoto Kan had a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office with H. E. Mr. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti, who is on a working visit to Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

Prime Minister Kan noted that Djibouti, in light of its location at the key junction of the sea route connecting Europe and Asia, is strategically an extremely important partner for Japan, which is largely dependent on trade. In addition, he thanked Djibouti for its cooperation with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF), which are stationed and active in Djibouti to counter piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Prime Minister Kan further explained that Japan intends to extend active support in the fields of water, energy, and education to Djibouti, which is a stabilizing force in the Horn of Africa, in order to improve the basic living standards in the country.
In response, President Guelleh expressed a deep gratitude to Japan’s assistance to the country, and said that the Government of Djibouti will continue supporting the SDF’s activities.
The two leaders exchanged views on regional affairs, such as Somalia and further shared the view that they will continue cooperating on other international issues such as the reform of the United Nations Security Council.

(END)

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