Press Conference, 8 April 2008

G8 Development Ministers' Meeting hosted in Tokyo
10th Africa Partnership Forum
Japan-Viet Nam EPA negotiations seventh meeting
Announcement of visits to Japan by foreign dignitaries
Commencement of the selection process for the International Manga Award

I. G8 Development Ministers' Meeting hosted in Tokyo

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon. Thank you very much for coming. I have five points to introduce to start with, all short not long.

First, Japan hosted the G8 Development Ministers' Meeting in Tokyo over the weekend. The meeting was held for two days from Saturday, 5 April to Sunday, 6 April. The text of the chair's summary, in English, is already up on the ministry's web-site.

II. 10th Africa Partnership Forum

Mr. Taniguchi: Second, Japan is now hosting the 10th Africa Partnership Forum, or APF. The forum started yesterday, Monday 7 April and will end today, Tuesday 8 April. Tonight, Prime Minister Fukuda will host an "African Night," inviting the APF participants and others. TICAD IV Goodwill Ambassador, actress Ms. Mayu Tsuruta, will attend also. Food, music, and dance... lots of African stuff will be presented thanks in large part to the members of the African diplomatic corps.

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III. Japan-Viet Nam EPA negotiations seventh meeting

Mr. Taniguchi: On the Asian front what I should say briefly as the third item is on the Japan-Viet Nam EPA negotiations. It is the 7th meeting that's going on now. It started yesterday, Monday, 7 April and will continue until Thursday, 10 April.

IV. Announcement of visits to Japan by foreign dignitaries

Mr. Taniguchi: The fourth announcement is on this week's incoming visits of foreign leaders. Now, from the (Republic of the) Marshall Islands, President Litokwa Tomeing is visiting Japan. President Tomeing arrived in Tokyo and met with Foreign Minister Koumura yesterday. And from France (the French Republic), Prime Minister Francois Fillon will visit Japan from Thursday, 10 April to Sunday, 13 April. Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan will receive the French Prime Minister during his stay.

V. Commencement of the selection process for the International Manga Award

Mr. Taniguchi: Finally let me say that again later this year, the Minister for Foreign Affairs will grant what we call the International Manga Award to three to four excellent manga creators from across the world. The selection process has just started with 368 published works as possible candidates. Among them 156 came from Asia, 114 from Europe, 34 and 32 from North and South America respectively, 23 from the Middle East, 5 from the African continent, and 4 from Oceania. The number of applicants, 368, has gone up almost by 250% compared to what we had last year when we launched the award for the first time. A group of well-known professional manga artists will make a panel of judges and choose the works worthy of the award.

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