Tokyo African Club (TAC) Meeting

September 14, 2007

As part of Japan’s efforts to strengthen dialogue with African countries towards TICAD IV, to be held in 2008, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a Tokyo African Club (TAC) meeting on September 12 (Wed), with the attendance of African ambassadors and others from the African diplomatic community in Tokyo. The Japanese participants included Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Itsunori Onodera, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yasuhide Nakayama, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nobutake Odano, Ambassador responsible for TICAD affairs, and Mr. Shuichiro Megata, Director-General for Sub-Saharan African Affairs.
In his opening speech, Mr. Machimura stated his determination to make TICAD IV a success and urged African countries to participate at the summit level. After Mr. Onodera and Mr. Nakayama introduced themselves, Mr. Salah Hannachi, Tunisian Ambassador to Japan, as Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) congratulated Mr. Machimura and the others on their appointment and stated the expectations and requests from the African side towards TICAD IV.
The Japanese side described the schedule leading to and the current status of preparations for TICAD IV. It stated its wish to strengthen the partnership with African countries through such occasions as this TAC meeting and requested the further understanding and cooperation. Representatives of the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank, which are the co-organizers of TICAD IV, also referred to the importance of cooperation among those working for TICAD IV.
African ambassadors made various comments on the preparations to make TICAD IV a success, and a lively discussion followed. The Japanese and the African sides agreed that they would continue their discussions on issues such as the composition of major themes at TICAD IV at future meetings. Ms. Yumiko Noda, Deputy Mayor of the City of Yokohama, welcomed the holding of TICAD IV in Yokohama and expressed the city’s wish to strengthen its ties with the national government and the ADC for the success of TICAD IV.

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