Press Releases
Japan-Botswana Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
August 20, 2025
On August 20, commencing at 4:00 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with Hon. Dr．Phenyo Butale, Minister of International Relations of Botswana, who is visiting Japan to participate in the in the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9). The overview of the meeting is as follows:
- At the outset, Minister IWAYA expressed his congratulations on the appointment as Foreign Minister of Botsuwana and welcomed his first visit to Japan. He also stated that, based on the friendly relations built through people-to-people exchanges, he would like to further strengthen bilateral relations with a view to the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year. In response, Minister Butare expressed his gratitude for Japan's hospitality and stated that he would like to work with Minister IWAYA to further develop bilateral relations.
- Following that, Minister IWAYA introduced that Japan is currently implementing the project aimed at improving the nutrition of children affected by drought and that he would like to support the efforts of Botswana toward food insecurity caused by natural disasters. Minister IWAYA also expressed his desire to strengthen economic relations in the areas of renewable energy and sewage systems, which are of interest to Japanese companies. In response, Minister Butale expressed his gratitude for Japan's support and his hope for further investment promotion by Japanese companies in Botswana and for cooperation in areas such as industrial infrastructure, health, and human resource development, including capacity building for young people.
- The two ministers also concurred to further strengthening cooperation in responding to various regional and international challenges, such as policies towards North Korea including the nuclear and missile issues and the abductions issue, as well as the United Nations Security Council reform.