Japan-Angola Relations

On August 29, for about 30 minutes, from 1:30 p.m., Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, in Yokohama, Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows. President Lourenço is visiting Japan to participate in the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) held from August 28 to 30.

1. At the outset, Prime Minister Abe stated, “I welcome President Lourenço’s participation in TICAD as the first ever head of state to participate in TICAD from Angola. I expect further progress on reform under the administration of President Lourenço, I hope that Angola will play roles, during TICAD7 which aims to promote business, as a key resource-rich regional economic nation, which attracts much attention from Japanese companies.” President Lourenço stated that the first participation in TICAD as the President of Angola is an important step for strengthening the relationship between Japan and Angola, and expressed his hope to deepen the amicable relationship between the two countries. 
2. Following that, Prime Minister Abe added that the two countries should strengthen the trade and investment relationship through such measures as the resumption of investment agreement negotiations. Prime Minister Abe asked President Lourenço to provide support for Japanese companies’ entry into Angola. In addition，Prime Minister Abe stated, “I welcome the fact that a substantive agreement on a technical cooperation agreement was reached.” President Lourenço appreciated Japan’s cooperation from the past to the present including support for the elimination of landmine, and expressed his hope for Japan’s assistance in fields such as agriculture and infrastructures. 
3. The two leaders also exchanged views regarding cooperation in the international arena, including UN Security Council reform, and the North Korea situation.