Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC)
- Reinforcement of the Cooperative Relationship Between Japan and the African Union
August 2010
H.E. Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), visited Japan from August 1 (Sun) to 3 (Tue) as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his stay in Japan, Chairperson Ping paid a courtesy call on Mr. Naoto Kan, Prime Minister of Japan, and met with Mr. Katsuya Okada, then Minister for Foreign Affairs. During his meeting as well as at a dinner with Chairperson Ping, Minister Okada welcomed the Chairperson's visit to Japan in a turning-point year commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Year of Africa. He also stated that Japan would actively provide assistance to Africa, delivering on the pledges made at the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV), including its commitment to double Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa, and make further contributions in the area of peace and security. Minister Okada conveyed to Chairperson Ping Japan's intention to consider cooperating for the realization of the vision of the Pan-African University and providing technical assistance for human capacity building as part of Japan's assistance to the AUC. Both sides confirmed that they would cooperate in addressing global issues, such as the reform of the United Nations Security Council. Minister Okada and Chairperson Ping issued the Joint Communiqué Regarding the Reinforcement of the Cooperative Relationship Between Japan and the African Union, and shared the view that Japan and the African Union would further reinforce their cooperative relationship by holding high-level policy talks regularly as well as through the AUC's role as a new co-organizer of the TICAD.
Furthermore, Chairperson Ping delivered a keynote speech at a symposium,"Present and Future of African Integration -- Towards a New Japan-Africa Relationship --," which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held at the United Nations University. He also exchanged views with members of the African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) as well as members of the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship League of the Democratic Party of Japan.
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