Summary of the Japan - China - Republic of Korea (ROK) Trilateral Policy Consultation on Foreign Policy towards Africa

December 12, 2008

On December 12 (Fri), the Japan - China - Republic of Korea (ROK) Trilateral Policy Consultation on Foreign Policy towards Africa was held in Tokyo. The summary is as follows:

Participants

Japan: Ambassador Yoshitaka Akimoto, Director-General for African Affairs
China: Mrs. Xu Jinghu, Director-General, Department of African Affairs
ROK side: Mr. Kim Jin-soo, Director-General, African and Middle Eastern Affairs Bureau
Other officials

Overview

(1) At this consultation, participants shared information and exchanged views on the three countries’ priorities in their policy on Africa as well as their economic relations and development cooperation with Africa, and regional issues.

(2) As for the priorities in the policy on Africa, Japan explained its priority areas such as accelerating economic growth, poverty reduction, promotion of good governance, and democracy, prevention of conflicts and peace building. It also reported on the active discussion on these issues at the TICAD IV this year. China and ROK respectively informed the others of their own Forums for cooperation with Africa. The three countries shared information on their own Forums for cooperation with Africa.

(3) About the economic relations with Africa, in light of the increasing trade with and investment to Africa from the three countries, the participants discussed policy measures to further expand trade and investment. On development cooperation, the participants agreed on the importance of having common development principles and sharing experiences among the three countries. Japan also pointed out that the international community expects emerging donors to take responsible actions in cooperation with other donors. In terms of development cooperation for Africa, Japan stressed the importance of information sharing, consideration of debt sustainability, consideration of good governance and the environmental and social impacts, alignment with the development strategies of recipient countries and acting in conformity with the international aid framework.

(4) On regional issues, the participants exchanged views on the situation in the Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In terms of countermeasures against the acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia, they agreed on the critical importance of sharing information among the three countries to secure the safety of maritime traffic in that area.

(5) Japan, China and ROK agreed to hold the Trilateral Policy Consultation on Foreign Policy towards Africa on a rotational basis since meaningful and fruitful discussions were held at this first policy consultation.

(END)