Press Releases
Meeting between Foreign Minister Kono and Economy, Industry and Public Portfolio Minister Ondongo of the Republic of Congo
On October 5, commencing at 2:25 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Gilbert Ondongo, Minister of Economy, Industry and Public Portfolio of the Republic of Congo, who is visiting Japan for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. At the outset, Minister Kono wholeheartedly welcomed Minister Ondongo’s participation in the TICAD Ministerial Meeting. Minister Kono also stated that, as exemplified by the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship League members’ visit to the Republic of Congo in August 2018, high-level visits between both countries are becoming dynamic, and expressed his desire to maintain this momentum to develop the relationship of the two countries toward TICAD 7.
2. In response, Minister Ondongo expressed his gratitude for Minister Kono’s welcome, and extended his condolence to the victims of earthquakes and other natural disasters that occurred in Japan from July to September.
3. Minister Kono referred to the food assistance of 200 million yen, of which the Exchange of Notes was signed in September, and Minister Ondongo expressed his appreciation for the assistance.
4. Furthermore, Minister Ondongo expressed his expectations for the business investment of Japanese companies and his desire to strengthen collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the country. The two Ministers exchanged views on the possibility of cooperation between two countries in various fields such as trade investment as well as development.