Africa

January 25, 2024
Japanese
Mr. Fukazawa paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Tshisekedi, President of the DRC H.E. Mr. Tshisekedi, President of the DRC
Mr. Fukazawa paid a courtesy call to the President Boakai H.E. Mr. Boakai, President of Liberia (Center)
Mr. Fukazawa shaking hands with Hon. Ms. Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana Hon. Ms. Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana

From 19 to 24 January, Mr. Fukazawa Yoichi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Liberia to attend the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony for the DRC and Liberia as Special Envoy of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. In addition, Mr. Fukazawa exchanged views in the DRC and Liberia, as well as in Ghana where he made a transit on the way back to Japan. Mr. Fukazawa also made visit to ODA project sites in Liberia and Ghana. The overview of the visit is as follows.

1. The DRC (19 and 20 January)

Mr. Fukazawa shaking hands with H.E. Mr. Kamerhe, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of the DRC H.E. Mr. Kamerhe, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy
Mr. Fukazawa paid a courtesy call on H.E. Ms. Keita, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and Head of the MONUSCO H.E. Ms. Keita, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and Head of the MONUSCO
  1. Attendance at the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony
    Mr. Fukazawa attended the presidential inauguration ceremony of H.E. Mr. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the capital Kinshasa on 20 January.
  2. Courtesy Visit to the President Tshisekedi
    Mr. Fukazawa paid a courtesy call on the President Tshisekedi at the presidential inauguration ceremony and at the reception. Handing him a letter from Prime Minister Kishida, he extended his congratulations on his inauguration. They affirmed the importance of further strengthening bilateral relations.
  3. Courtesy Visit to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy
    On 19 January, Mr. Fukazawa paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Vital Kamerhe Lwa Kanyinginyi Nkingi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of the DRC. They exchanged views on efforts to further strengthen bilateral relations, including bilateral economic relations and development cooperation.
  4. Courtesy Visit to Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and Head of the MONUSCO
    On 19 January, Mr. Fukazawa paid a courtesy call on H.E. Ms Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and Head of the UN Mission for the Stabilization of the DRC (MONUSCO). He received a briefing on the situation on the activities of the MONUSCO, and they exchanged views on the status of the activities and efforts towards stabilization in the eastern region of the DRC.
  5. Meeting with Japanese UN agency officials
    On 19 January, Mr. Fukazawa held a meeting with Japanese UN agency officials working in the DRC and exchanged views on the situation of the DRC and the various issues.

2. Liberia (21, 22, and 23 January)

Mr. Fukazawa attended the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony Presidential Inauguration Ceremony
Mr. Fukazawa paid a courtesy call to Hon. Mr. Grigsby, new Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Liberia . Hon. Mr. Grigsby, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs (Center Right)
    　
  1. Attendance at the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony
    On 22 January, Mr. Fukazawa attended the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony for H. E. Mr. Joseph Nyumah Boakai at capital Monrovia.
  2. Courtesy Visit to the President Boakai
    On 23 January, Mr. Fukazawa paid a courtesy call to the President Boakai and handed over a letter from Prime Minister Kishida, and expressed his wishes to further strengthen bilateral relationship between Japan and Liberia in various areas including Liberia's active participation in TICAD. In response, Mr. Boakai expressed his gratitude to Japan for the dispatch of Special Envoy to Presidential Inauguration and for the supports that Japan offered in various areas. Mr. Boakai expressed his desire to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation in various areas including development cooperation.
  3. Courtesy Visit to Minister of State for Presidential Affair
    On 23 January, Mr. Fukazawa paid a courtesy call to new Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Hon. Mr. Sylvester Grigsby. Mr. Fukazawa exchanged views on bilateral relations and on cooperation on the international arena.
  4. Development project site visits, roundtable meetings with Japanese residents and former African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative) trainees
    On 23 January, Mr. Fukazawa visited the Japan Freeway which was extended by Japan and the Liberian-Japanese Friendship Maternity Hospital rehabilitated by Japan. He was briefed about how Japanese development cooperation is being utilized. On 22 January, Mr. Fukazawa also held a meeting with JICA officials and UN agency officials residing in Liberia and exchanged views on situation of Liberia and on how to strengthen relations between the two countries.
    On 23 January, Mr. Fukazawa also had a discussion with Liberians who had studied at Japanese higher education institutions under the ABE Initiative's training program on the issues related to the development of Liberia as well as strengthening of the bilateral relations. Participants stated that they would like to contribute to the current situation and challenges in Liberia and to the strengthening of relations between the two countries.

3. Ghana (24 January)

Mr. Fukazawa Visiting the Noguchi Institute for Medical Research Visiting the Noguchi Institute for Medical Research
Mr. Fukazawa received the briefing and reviewed from Noguchi institute for Medical Research Briefing at Noguchi institute
    　
  1. Courtesy Visit to Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana
    Mr. Fukazawa paid a courtesy call on Hon. Ms. Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana during his transit in Ghana. He expressed deep gratitude to the warm welcome by Ghana during Prime Minister Kishida’s visit last May. Ms. Botchwey welcomed the visit of Parliamentary Secretary Fukazawa to Ghana and highly appreciated the progress of bilateral cooperation in various fields. They affirmed the importance of further strengthening bilateral and international cooperation, including economic relations and the TICAD process.
  2. Visiting the Noguchi Institute for Medical Research
    Mr. Fukazawa visited the Noguchi Institute for Medical Research which Japan supports. While visiting the institute, he received the briefing and reviewed its facility and equipment supported by Japan.
  3. Meeting with Japanese business executives in Ghana
    Mr. Fukazawa held a meeting with Japanese business executives in Ghana. They have exchanged views on a way for further developing the Japan-Ghana economic relationship in the future as well as challenges they face in Ghana which is one of the leading economic centers in West Africa and has a market with great potential.

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