Japan-Madagascar Relations

April 27, 2024
Minister Kamikawa and Minister Rasata
Photo of the meeting

On April 27, commencing at 0: 30 p.m. (local time) for approximately 165 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting the Republic of Madagascar, held a foreign ministers' meeting including a tête-à-tête (one-on-one meeting) and a working lunch with Ms. RASATA Rafaravavitafika, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar. The overview is as follows.

  1. At the outset, Minister Kamikawa stated that she was pleased to visit Madagascar for the first time as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and conveyed her sympathy and Japan's support for the damages caused by the cyclone that hit the north of the country last month. Minister Kamikawa also stated that Madagascar, which is located at a key juncture between the Indian Ocean and the east coast of Africa, is an important partner in promoting a Free and Open Pacific (FOIP) and that, through this visit, she would like to promote strategic cooperation for the concrete implementation of FOIP and collaboration to resolve global issues as well as to strengthen bilateral relations, towards the TICAD Ministerial Meeting in August this year and TICAD 9 in August next year. In response, Minister Rasata welcomed Minister Kamikawa's historic visit and expressed her gratitude for Japan's assistance in dealing with the cyclone damage. Minister Rasata expressed her support for FOIP proposed in the previous TICAD and stated that this visit would further elevate the bilateral relations and she would like to further strengthen the good relations between the two countries.
  2. Referring to the importance of Toamasina Port supported by Japan in strengthening maritime connectivity, Minister Kamikawa stated that she would like to achieve economic development of both Japan and Madagascar by tacking multifaceted development of Madagascar. The two Ministers concurred on working together to promote economic resilience through cooperation in the development of a wider urban area and the improvement of production technology for important minerals by using "Co-Creation for Common Agenda Initiative" launched in the new Development Cooperation Charter. As maritime states, both Ministers also concurred on working together to maintain a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law including maritime security for the concrete implementation of FOIP.
  3. Minister Kamikawa stated that Madagascar is also an important partner for Japan from the perspective of economic security, and requested cooperation to improve the business environment, referring to a mineral project being implemented in the Press Release Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan country as the Japanese largest investment project in Africa. In response, Minister Rasata expressed her expectations for technical assistance and human resource development through the project. The two ministers confirmed that they would continue to work together to ensure the stable operation of the project, including cooperation for human resource development.
  4. Minister Kamikawa stressed the importance of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) perspectives in achieving peace, stability and prosperity in the international community and practicing “human security”, including responding to natural disasters. The two ministers concurred on promoting WPS together in the international community.
  5. In addition, the two ministers exchanged views on the regional situation in East Asia, such as dealing with North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue. They also discussed various issues in the international community such as disarmament and non-proliferation and strengthening of the functions of the United Nations including Security Council reform. The two ministers confirmed that they would continue to work together.

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