Japan-Lesotho Relations
Japan-Lesotho Summit Meeting
August 31, 2019
Japan-Lesotho Summit Meeting(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
On August 31, for about 15 minutes, from 11:20 am, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a Japan-Lesotho Summit Meeting with H.E. Mr. Motsoahae Thomas Thabane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The overview of the meeting is as follows. Prime Minister Thabane participated in the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) held from August 28 to 30.
- At the outset, Prime Minister Abe stated that he was pleased to meet His Excellency again for the first time since TICAD V and stated, “I hope that Lesotho and Japanese companies will become even closer as a result of TICAD7, which aims to promote business.”
In response, Prime Minister Thabane expressed his gratitude for Japan’s sincere contributions to African development through the TICAD process and offered his congratulations on His Majesty the Emperor’s enthronement. - Following that, Prime Minister Abe expressed his intent to support the improvement of food security in Lesotho, and stated that Japan will continue to assist human resource development in Lesotho thorough the ABE Initiative and other means. In response, Prime Minister Thabane expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support, including cooperation in human resource development through the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and the ABE Initiative. He also expressed his hopes for further cooperation in human resource development, including the the field of judiciary.
- The two leaders also exchanged views regarding cooperation in the international arena, including UN Security Council reform, and the North Korea situation.