Opening Remarks
by Mr. Shintaro Ito, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
On the occasion of the Africa Day Symposium
at the UN University, Tokyo
June 8, 2006
モハエ・ボツワナ共和国大統領訪日の機会に合わせて開催されたアフリカデー・シンポジウムにおいて、開会の辞を述べる伊藤政務官
モハエ・ボツワナ共和国大統領とともに
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am Shintaro Ito, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs responsible for Africa.
I am delighted to join you here today at the opening of the Africa Day Symposium, and am also particularly honored to be with His Excellency Mr. Festus Mogae, President of the Republic of Botswana.
I understand that this Symposium commemorates the founding day of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). In the 40 years, the OAU has developed into the African Union (AU) aiming at further political and economic integration of Africa. Meanwhile, the Japan-Africa relationship has also been steadily developing. Every year Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs organizes "African Festa" to promote mutual understanding and interactions between Japanese and African people. Approximately more than 70,000 people visited the Festa this year, and the turnout is growing. It really shows Japan's great attention toward Africa.
Japan started the TICAD process in 1993. We also invited African leaders to the Kyushu Okinawa Summit Meeting in the year 2000. It was the first time in the history of G8. Nowadays the international community comes to recognize the importance of Africa's development. Prime Minister Koizumi stated that we have witnessed a new breath of development and that Africa is changing from "the home of issues" to "the home of self-endeavor" at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa last month. He also stressed the importance of self-help and ownership of Africa. Japan will surely provide cooperation to achieve Africa's development, through the TICAD process and various measures.
The agenda of Africa Day Symposium today is "Tools for Development: the role of Trade, Investment and ODA." Japan has been stressing "poverty reduction through economic growth" for a long time as a main philosophy of our international cooperation policy. We announced "the Development Initiative for Trade" on the occasion of the WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong last December.
At the same time, we need to consolidate the peace, security and good governance to achieve Africa's growth. I attended the inauguration ceremony of the Liberian President and met Africa's first elected female President, Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf this January. Through my visit to the country, I became convinced that the people of Liberia had surely overcome difficult times. Children in Liberia, who were born and brought up in the midst of the 14 years of civil war, now enjoy their school life for the first time and their eyes are full of hopes for a better society. I remember the happy face of a girl who was learning hairdressing for her future job, at a UNICEF vocational centre sponsored by Japan.
Lots of things still remain to be done in Africa. Some countries are fighting over land. There are also conflicts over natural resources. Even under those circumstances, Botswana succeeded in showing excellent governance under the eminent leadership of President Mogae. Now it has established its status as a leading exporter of precious diamonds without experiencing any serious internal disorder. I compliment the President's effort and hope such efforts will prevail throughout Africa.
We believe that the way towards Africa's development shall be further expanded with international partnership collaborating with Africa's ownership.
I am sure this Symposium will benefit both Japan and Africa in deepening mutual understanding and cooperation, and create a new horizon of partnership between Africa and the world.
Thank you.