2 African Union (AU)

The African Union Commission (AUC) is the secretariat of the African Union (AU), one of the world's largest regional institutions, and it works to achieve greater political and economic integration in Africa as well as prevent and resolve conflicts.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of the AU Summit in February, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs FUKAZAWA Yoichi visited Ethiopia and held meetings and discussions with Deputy Chairperson of the AUC Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD), Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the AUC, Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, and the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of the AUC, Mohamed Belhocine.

In March, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Fukazawa received a courtesy call by AUC Commissioner Sacko.

Deputy Chairperson of the AUC Nsanzabaganwa participated in the TICAD Ministerial Meeting held in Tokyo in August, and attended a working lunch for African female Ministers with Foreign Minister Kamikawa. She also held talks with the Minister.

In October, Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD Nordos Bekele-Thomas visited Japan and paid a courtesy call on Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Fukazawa.