Japan-Somalia Relations

On August 29, for about 20 minutes commencing at 2:20 p.m., in Yokohama, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a Foreign Ministers’ meeting with H.E. Ambassador Ahmed Isse Awad, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The overview of the meeting is as follows. Ambassador Ahmed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is visiting Japan to attend the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) held from August 28 to 30.

1. At the outset, Minister Kono stated, “I welcome Your Excellency’s first visit to Japan. I would like to make the seventh TICAD successful and further strengthen ties between the two countries.” In response, Minister Ahmed stated, “I am honored to have visited Japan and pleased to participate in TICAD for the first time.”
2. Following that, Minister Kono welcomed Somalia’s participation in the Special Conference on Promoting Cooperation in the Western Indian Ocean and announced Japan’s intention to support Somalia in its effort to promote urban development and to improve food security. In response, Minister Ahmed expressed his gratitude for the support provided by Japan to Somalia and the Horn of Africa region to date and showed expectation for further promotion of the cooperative relationship between the two countries. 
3. Both ministers also exchanged views regarding cooperation in the international arena, including UN Security Council reform.