Japan and the United Nations

On June 3 (8:40a.m.-9:20a.m.), 2013, H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, hosted the “Japan-Africa Summit Meeting on U.N. Security Council Reform.” Attended were African leaders and heads of delegations of the Committee of Ten (C-10) on U.N. reforms, including H.E. Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of C-10 and H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AUC). African participants were in Japan to attend the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development（TICAD V）in Yokohama from June 1-3.

 

H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan

H.E. Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone

H.E. Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda

H.E. Mr. Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of the Republic of Namibia

H.E. Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, President of the Republic of Zambia

H.E. Mr. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal

H.E. Mr. Abdelkader Bensalah, President of the Council of the Nation of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria

H.E. Mr. Mohamed Emohamed Abdulaziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Libya

H.E. Mr. Michael S. M. Kamau, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Kenya

H.E. Mr. Angel Mokara Moleila, State Secretary for Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Equatorial Guinea

H.E. Mr. Lazare Makayat Safouesse, Ambassador to Ethiopia from the Republic of Congo

H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the AUC

 

In his remarks, Prime Minister Abe expressed the view that U.N. Security Council reform, which is another important and common agenda for Japan and African countries, is a big missing piece in the overall global governance reform. Recognizing that this is the first summit level meeting ever between Japan and Africa focusing on Security Council reform, he expressed his hope to further strengthen Japan-Africa cooperation on Security Council reform through this meeting. Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan and Africa, as a driving force of the reform, aiming to realize an expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, share many elements in common, and that Japan would like to enhance momentum toward realizing Security Council reform through further enhancing cooperation with Africa. 

In response, the African side, including Sierra Leone President Dr. Koroma and other leaders of C-10, expressed their gratitude to Japan for holding such a meeting and explained Africa’s position and policy on Security Council reform. 

Both sides, with a view to early realization of the reform, concurred to further coordination and cooperation between Japan and African countries in their capitals and through their Missions to the United Nations.