Japan-Gabon Relations

On August 29, for about 20 minutes, commencing at 9:15 a.m., in Yokohama, Mr. Kono Taro, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with H.E. Mr. Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Gabonese Republic. The overview of the meeting is as follows. Minister Bilie-By-Nze is visiting Japan to attend the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) held from August 28 to 30.

1. At the outset, Minister Kono stated, “I welcome your first visit to Japan. Japan is placing emphasis on a partnership with the Gabonese Republic that sustains peace and stability in the central Africa region. This time, by cooperating with Minister Bilie-By-Nze, we would like to further strengthen ties between the two countries through TICAD7”.
   In response, Minister Bilie-By-Nze stated “By utilizing the opportunity of TICAD7, our country would like to strengthen bilateral relations with Japan. I hope that TICAD7 will be successful, and I am greatly thankful to hospitality from Japan. President Ali Bongo instructed me to use every opportunity to strengthen friendship with Japan.”
2. Following that, Minister Kono expressed Japan’s intent to support the improvement of maternal and child health through cooperation with international organizations and NGOs. Furthermore, Minister Kono stated that Japan would like to continuously support Centre d'Appui à la Pêche Artisanale de Libreville (CAPAL), and expressed a hope that young people of Gabonese Republic, who have been participating in the ABE initiative and other programs, will contribute to industrial development in the Gabonese Republic. In response, Minister Bilie-By-Nze extended his warmest congratulations to His Majesty the Emperor’s enthronement, and stated that for the diversification of Gabonese economy, the Gabonese Republic would like to deepen a cooperative relationship with Japan in fields such as agriculture, fishery, and tourism.
3. The two ministers also exchanged views regarding cooperation in the international arena, including UN Security Council reform.