Visit to West Africa by Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Katsuyuki Kawai
(Summary and Evaluation)
- Guinea -
February 2005
(Parliamentary Secretary Kawai (center) surrounded by children of Conakry City Primary School (Guinea))
1. Summary
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Katsuyuki Kawai visited the Republic of Guinea in West Africa from Tuesday, February 22 to Thursday, February 24.
Parliamentary Secretary Kawai held meetings with the prime minister, minister of foreign affairs and other relevant personnel of Guinea and sought their support for the early realization of the United Nations (UN) and Security Council reforms as well as for the understanding and support of Guinea for Japan's candidature for permanent membership of the Security Council. Parliamentary Secretary Kawai further explained to the senior officials Japan's diplomatic stance towards Africa, including its active engagement with Africa through the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) process and other channels.
Parliamentary Secretary Kawai also endeavored to develop diplomatic relations at grassroots level by observing those projects to which Japan has provided economic cooperation and by exchanging opinions with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) experts and Japanese nationals in Guinea, and engaging in other activities.
 (Parliamentary Secretary Kawai (left) and Prime Minister Diallo (right)) |
 (Parliamentary Secretary Kawai (right) and Foreign Minister Condé (left) |
(1) Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo
Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo expressed his gratitude for Japan's economic cooperation. The two then exchanged opinions on the development of close bilateral relations as well as cooperation in the international arena including the UN.
(2) Minister of Foreign Affairs Mamady Condé
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mamady Condé expressed his gratitude for Japan's economic cooperation and described the economic crisis facing Guinea which has accepted several thousand refugees from surrounding countries. The two then exchanged opinions on cooperation in the international arena including the UN.
 (Parliamentary Secretary Kawai (right) and Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Toure (left)) |
 (Parliamentary Secretary Kawai (right) and National Assembly President Sompare (left)) |
(3) Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ibrahima Sory TOURE
Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture TOURE expressed his gratitude for Japan's cooperation, which had greatly contributed to the modernization of Guinea in the area of fisheries. The two then exchanged opinions on cooperation regarding the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
(4) President of the National Assembly Aboubacar Sompare
The meeting was attended by a number of members of the National Assembly and opinions were exchanged on exchanges at the Parliamentary level as well as cooperation in the international arena.
 (Left: Parliamentary Secretary Kawai surrounded by local women making smoked fish at Port Boulbinet) |
 (Right: Parliamentary Secretary Kawai being interviewed by a local TV station) |
(5) Parliamentary Secretary Kawai visited and observed those projects (Conakry City Primary School and Port Boulbinet, grant aid cooperation projects) to which Japan has provided economic cooperation and exchanged opinions with JICA experts and Japanese nationals in Guinea.
2. Evaluation
- Parliamentary Secretary Kawai's visit further enhanced Japan's friendly and cooperative relations with Guinea and a sufficient level of opinion exchange was conducted regarding cooperation in the international arena centering on the UN and Security Council reforms.
- This year Africa will attract significant international attention at G8 Gleneagles Summit in July (with Africa being one of the main themes), at the High-Level Plenary Summit on the Millennium Declaration in September and on other occasions. Against its backdrop, Parliament Secretary Kawai elaborated in a serried of meetings on Japan's active diplomatic stance towards Africa based on the TICAD process it have been advancing, and gained support from high-level officials of Guinea.
- Visiting economic cooperation projects, exchanging opinions with experts and Japanese nationals in Guinea, and engaging in other activities, Parliament Secretary Kawai succeeded in advancing highly "visible" grass-roots and public diplomacy.
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