Press Conferences

Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu: I have just concluded the entire schedule of my visit to Africa.

This was an 8-day, 5-night itinerary, including overnight flights to and from Japan. During this trip, I visited Zambia, Angola, Kenya, and South Africa. The series of visits had three principal objectives. First, to deepen Japan’s coordination with Africa, one of the major regions of the Global South which has been steadily increasing its influence and voice within the international community. Second, to advance resource diplomacy with African countries that are rich in critical minerals and other resources, and to deepen cooperation and collaboration for strengthening supply chain resilience. And third, through a policy speech, to enhance Japan’s outreach regarding the updated “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),” and Japan’s diplomatic policy toward Africa reflecting these updates. The four countries I visited all share fundamental values with Japan and are expected to see further growth. Building on the achievements of TICAD and on relationships of trust, I was able to engage in candid and meaningful exchanges of views with each country.

First, in Zambia, at the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and working lunch with Minister Haimbe, we agreed to work together to advance bilateral relations, building on the conclusion of the Japan-Zambia Investment Agreement. I also visited Hitachi Construction Machinery, which operates facilities for the maintenance, servicing, and remanufacturing of heavy machinery used in mining operations. Japan will continue supporting the entry and expansion of Japanese companies into the country.

Next, in Angola—which is marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Japan—through my courtesy call on President Lourenço, the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Minister of External Relations António, and a working lunch with Minister of State for Economic Coordination Massano and Minister of External Relations António, we concurred on strengthening bilateral relations. With Angola, an oil-producing country that also produces critical minerals, we discussed the expansion of economic relations in fields such as energy resources and critical minerals, including rare earths, and we agreed to support cooperation in the rare earths field as well as the participation of Japanese companies in the trading of Angolan crude oil.

In Kenya, with President Ruto, whom I met for the first time in 13 years, and with Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi, we were able to align our views on cooperation between our two countries across a wide range of fields. We confirmed that Japan would advance cooperation with Kenya, an important partner that shares the principles of freedom and the rule of law—the core principles of FOIP—in various fields such as the economy, infrastructure development, and security, including the provision of Official Security Assistance (OSA).

I also delivered a policy speech on FOIP and Japan’s diplomacy toward Africa, and I believe I was able to convey the powerfully evolving posture of Japan’s diplomacy, as well as the views and initiatives that underpin it. I was hoping that perhaps around 250 people might attend, but in fact 570 people gathered at the venue, and I was deeply impressed by the depth of interest in Japan and in how Japan will engage with Africa.

And finally, in South Africa, just a short while ago I held a meeting with President Ramaphosa, and prior to that with Minister Lamola, and we had a meaningful exchange of views on cooperation toward the strengthening of bilateral relations. With South Africa—a major producer of many critical minerals and the country where the largest number of Japanese companies operate —we reached agreement on advancing public-private cooperation toward strengthening supply chain resilience for critical minerals, on supporting South Africa’s energy transition efforts toward decarbonization, and on further coordination on investment promotion.

In each country and at each meeting, we exchanged views on issues facing the international community, including the situation in the Middle East, and we confirmed that we would continue to deepen our coordination going forward, including cooperation in international fora such as that on UN Security Council Reform, and that we would work together toward the maintenance and strengthening of a rules-based, free and open international order.

In this connection, immediately upon my arrival in Kenya, at the request of Foreign Minister Araghchi of Iran, a telephone call was hastily arranged. The details have already been announced. At this important juncture, as we wait and see whether the resumption of the U.S.-Iran talks will be realized, I believe it was valuable to be able to maintain close communication with Minister Araghchi. This marked my fifth telephone call with Minister Araghchi since March. Drawing also on this channel of communication with Iran, I will continue to work tenaciously to make diplomatic efforts toward the early de-escalation of the situation, including ensuring the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

This was my first visit to Africa in five years. In each country I visited, I felt a strong pulse of growth. In my policy speech in Kenya, I emphasized that the three pillars of Japan’s diplomacy toward Africa are “Realizing a Continent of Peace in Africa,” “Creating a Virtuous Cycle of Growth for Africa and Japan,” and “Realizing a Society where Everyone Can Genuinely Feel Prosperity, through Empowering Young-Generation Co Creation.” Building on the track record of trust and cooperation that Japan has cultivated with African countries over many years, I was able to clearly communicate and share that Japan and Africa are partners in co-creating the future. It was an extremely fulfilling visit.

Reporter: Resource diplomacy with Africa was one of the major focuses of your visit this time. At present, Japan’s imports of crude oil, rare earths, and other resources from Africa are still limited. You stated in your speech in Kenya that Japan will pursue reliable cooperation throughout the entire process, including the mining and refining of critical minerals and the production of final products. What impression did you get in terms of the positive impact that your visit to Africa will have on the diversification of resource procurement sources?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: One of the objectives of this visit to Africa was certainly to advance resource diplomacy. For Japan, which depends on imports for the majority of energy and resources, diversifying its procurement sources is an urgent and critical issue in the current severe international situation.

Through this visit, Japan and Angola, a crude oil producer, held a meaningful discussion regarding the participation of Japanese companies in crude oil trading. In addition, we received a very positive response from President Lourenço.

With Zambia, Angola, and South Africa, which are rich in critical minerals, we concurred on cooperating to further strengthen economic relations, including the strengthening of supply chain resilience for critical minerals.

The actual development and diversification of procurement sources require the cooperation of private-sector companies and cannot be achieved overnight. Nevertheless, building on the outcomes of this visit, Japan intends to continue steadily pursuing resource diplomacy with Africa at an even faster pace than before.

Reporter: The Chinese Foreign Minister has visited Africa at the beginning of a new year for 36 consecutive years. In such ways, China has increased its presence in the continent over many years. As for Russia, while its influence in Africa temporarily declined following the collapse of the Soviet Union, it has hosted the Russia-Africa Summit since 2019 and strengthened ties across a wide range of areas, including the economy and military. Could you share your thoughts on how Japan’s diplomacy toward Africa will be differentiated from China’s and Russia’s and how a quintessentially Japanese presence will be demonstrated?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: It has been 33 years since Japan launched TICAD. I feel African countries regard Japan as a reliable long-term partner in many respects. Amid an increasingly severe international situation, the importance of Africa diplomacy is undoubtedly growing for Japan. Building on this understanding, Japan sought to strengthen bilateral relations with the four African countries through this visit, explained in various ways its policy toward Africa based on the updated FOIP, and concurred on further cooperation.

As I presented in my speech in Kenya, the three pillars of Japan’s Africa diplomacy are as follows. First, “Realizing a Continent of Peace in Africa.” With conflicts and confrontations persisting across Africa, Japan will cooperate in addressing them through various approaches. Second, “Creating a Virtuous Cycle of Growth for Africa and Japan.” This is not about one side benefiting unilaterally. Growth in Africa will also have a positive impact on Japan, which in turn will generate further investment in Africa, creating a virtuous cycle of growth. The third is “Realizing a Society where Everyone Can Genuinely Feel Prosperity, through Empowering Young-Generation Co-Creation.” There are significant disparities within African societies. Given these disparities can lead to various problems and conflicts, we believe that it is extremely important to build a society where everyone can genuinely feel prosperity, where everyone can believe that they have opportunities to play an active role, and where young people can feel that their future is bright. You mentioned Africa diplomacy of some countries, but I believe these three pillars will translate into Africa diplomacy that is quintessentially Japanese.

TICAD was launched in 1993 emphasizing African “ownership” and “partnership” with the international community. As I mentioned at the outset, TICAD has over 30 years of history and track record, and in this regard, is highly valued by African countries. In fact, also during my meetings, the leaders reiterated their appreciation for TICAD. Building on this foundation, we will continue pursuing a quintessentially Japanese diplomacy toward Africa, which I believe will contribute to strengthening relationships of trust with African countries in the long term.

Reporter: You visited Angola and met with the President and others. According to the press releases of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides concurred in encouraging Japanese companies to participate in the trading of Angolan crude oil. What does Japan envision exactly? If there is a specific timeline in mind, please share that as well.

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: As I mentioned earlier, given that this initiative involves private-sector companies, we will be coordinating with them regarding the starting date. As I stated earlier, we received a very positive response from President Lourenço. Drawing on the exchanges between myself and President Lourenço, we will thoroughly follow up through bilateral frameworks, such as the Japan-Angola Policy Consultations, and by gathering input from companies about their interests and other details.