Japan-Liberia Relations
Japan-Liberia Summit Meeting
August 30, 2019
Japan-Liberia Summit Meeting(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
On August 30, for about 15 minutes, from 9:20 am, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, in Yokohama, Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows. President Weah is visiting Japan to participate in the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) held from August 28 to 30.
- At the outset, Prime Minister Abe remarked, “I would like to welcome Your Excellency’s first participation in TICAD. I applaud Liberia for achieving peace and stability through democratic elections, overcoming the difficulties presented by civil war and Ebola outbreak.” In response, President Weah stated, “I appreciate your warm welcome. I highly value Japan’s contribution in the TICAD process.” President Weah, touching on the fact that he was elected president at the age of 52, the same age as when Prime Minister Abe assumed his post, expressed his hope for closer relations between Japan and Liberia.
- Following that, Prime Minister Abe stated Japan’s intention to support President Weah’s initiatives under his Pro-Poor policy. On that basis, Prime Minister Abe announced Japan’s intention to cooperate in the promotion of Liberia’s fisheries industry. Prime Minister Abe also stated that Japan will continue to support the country’s efforts to counter infectious diseases, and that it will cooperate in quality infrastructure development as exemplified in the Japan Freeway. In response, President Weah expressed appreciation for Japan’s cooperation in the fields of health, education, and infrastructure, as well as the measures against the Ebola virus disease. President Weah also showed his expectation towards Japan’s further cooperation.
- The two leaders also exchanged views regarding cooperation in the international arena, including UN Security Council reform, and the North Korea situation.