Japan-Madagascar Relations
Japan-Madagascar Summit Meeting
Photograph of the Prime Minister welcoming the President of Madagascar
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
Photograph of the salute and the guard of honor ceremony (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
Photograph of the salute and the guard of honor ceremony (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
On December 5, commencing at around 6:15 p.m. for approximately 35 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Rakotoarimanana Hery Martial Rajaonarimampianina, President of the Republic of Madagascar, who was paying an official visit to Japan. The overview of the summit meeting is as follows.
Photograph of the leaders shaking hands
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
Photograph of the Japan-Madagascar Summit Meeting
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
Following the summit meeting, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Mr. Henry Rabary-Njaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar signed an exchange of notes in the presence of the two leaders on two grant aid projects worth approximately 670 million yen (for supporting food security and improving access to safe water), and the two leaders issued a Joint Statement between Japan and the Republic of a Madagascar (French (PDF)
/ Japanese (PDF)). Subsequently the two leaders held a joint press occasion. Prime Minister Abe and Mrs. Abe then hosted a dinner, where the two leaders discussed a broad range of topics relating to the bilateral relations.
Photograph of the leaders attending the signing ceremony
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
1. Opening remarks
(1) Prime Minister Abe welcomed President Rajaonarimampianina on his first visit to Japan and said it was a pleasure to meet the President again following the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in August last year. Prime Minister Abe explained that Madagascar, a resource-rich, friendly nation functioning as the gateway to eastern and southern Africa, is an important country in realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Abe stated that he hopes President Rajaonarimampianina’s visit to Japan will be an opportunity to bring about further significant advances in the bilateral relationship.
(2) In response, President Rajaonarimampianina expressed gratitude for Japan’s invitation, and explained that he had been looking forward to visiting Japan since his meeting with Prime Minister Abe last year at TICAD VI in Nairobi. President Rajaonarimampianina explained that the Government of Madagascar hopes to strengthen its friendship with Japan, and he is extremely delighted to be able to realize the wish of the Government of Madagascar through this trip to Japan.
2. Bilateral relations
(1) Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy
Prime Minister Abe stated that it is extremely important to develop international ports that are operated in an open, transparent and non-exclusive manner, including the expansion of Toamasina Port, for the connectivity of the Indo-Pacific region. President Rajaonarimampianina responded that Madagascar also attaches importance to safe and free navigation, the rule of law, and peace and stability and supports the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy that Prime Minister Abe promotes.
(2) Economy, and economic cooperation
Prime Minister Abe mentioned that the Japan-Madagascar Public-Private Infrastructure Meeting was held successfully in July this year, and stated that Japan will continue to support Madagascar’s economic development, including by developing quality infrastructure and human resources. In response, President Rajaonarimampianina expressed gratitude for Japan’s support in various fields, and the two leaders shared the view that the Ambatovy Project and the project of the expansion of Toamasina Port are important, and that negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty need to begin as soon as possible.
3. Regional affairs and cooperation in the international arena
The two leaders shared the view that North Korea’s nuclear and missile development poses a major threat not only to the peace of the region but also of the international community, and it is important to further intensify pressure on North Korea, including by fully implementing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. In addition, Prime Minister Abe requested understanding and cooperation with regard to the abductions issue, and President Rajaonarimampianina expressed his understanding for Japan’s position.
Furthermore, the two leaders reconfirmed the importance of making further progress on UNSC reform.
Photograph of the leaders heading
to the signing ceremony and the
joint press announcement
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
Photograph of the joint press announcement
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
Photograph of the joint press announcement
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
The Ambatovy Project is one of the world’s largest nickel mining and refining projects. Sumitomo Corporation is a shareholder in the project.