Opening Address by Prime Minister Keizo OBUCHI at TICADII, October 19 1998

Your Majesty,
Your Excellencies, the Presidents,
Prime Ministers and Ministers,
Distinguished Heads and Representatives from international
organizations,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

At the opening of TICADII and on behalf of its co-organizers, the United Nations, the Global Coalition for Africa, and the Government of Japan- I wish to extend my heartiest welcome to all the distinguished participants assembled here today from Africa and other parts of the world.

It has been five years since TICAD I was held and the Tokyo Declaration was adopted. Proclaiming a clear message that a bright future surely awaited Africa, the Tokyo Declaration firmly committed African nations and their development partners to undertake a major effort to achieve stability and prosperity in Africa. This second conference aims only to reaffirm those important commitments but also especially to move further ahead and formulate a concrete plan of action.

This plan of action will consolidate the efforts of the international community for further progress in the social and economic development of African countries and the welfare of their peoples. I trust and sincerely hope that we will be able to work together to that end, and I ask for your strong support and cooperation for a successful conference.

If you permit me a brief personal note, I first came into contact with Africa in the 1960s - the decade of independence on the continent. I was then in my mid-twenties, aspiring to a career in politics and I set off alone on a see- the- world trip around the globe. Thus, I went to Kenya, Uganda and other countries in 1963, where I witnessed the overwhelming aspirations of the people for nation building during that period of independence. What impressed me most as a young lone traveler from Asia, was first of all the genuinely warm hospitality of African people, then their boundless vitality, and the great potential of the continent.

After that period, Africa came to be exposed to the Cold War confrontation and rivalry, and it struggled through the difficult years of the so-called lost decade of 1980s.But the end of the Cold War ushered in a new era in which the fresh winds of democratization and market-oriented economies began to have an positive impact across the African continent. Nation building efforts directed by the Africans themselves are producing results. Nearly 20 African countries are now achieving a GDP growth of around five percent. Politically, many countries have been holding free elections based on multi-party system. It is indeed a great pleasure for me to see that the bright future for Africa that I foresaw some 30 years ago is being realized in many African countries today.

However, it still is a fact that poverty remains widespread and deeply rooted, and unfortunately the Post-Cold War international environment has not always been very favorable to Africa. Conflicts between nations, ethnic disputes, terrorism and massive refugee flows are re-emerging. These problems threaten peace and stability, which are the prerequisites for sustainable development. They are of critical concern not only for the African countries themselves but also the international community.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

In the midst of these many serious problems, TICAD II stands as a unique opportunity, bringing together not only African nations and their major development partners but also partners from Asia. As a co-organiser and as an important development partner of both Africa and Asia, Japan intends to continue to contribute actively to development in Africa. And in so doing, we will in particular emphasize the following.

First, Japan respects African countries' own initiative and ownership of their own development. The importance of ownership in development is one of the lessons we learned from our own experience in development cooperation vis a vis our partner countries in Asia.

Second, highly industrialized countries should continue to extend hands of solidarity and support to African countries to assist in their development efforts. In doing so, I believe it is essential that a full spirit of partnership and mutual respect be enhanced. Japan has been emphasizing the importance of consolidation of such equal and full partnership since the first TICAD and has taken the lead in international fora to materialise this principle. It has now been endorsed by the OECD/ DAC in its new development strategy, and we welcome the fact that this is increasingly becoming a common and fundamental recognition of the international community in development cooperation.

Third, I cannot over-emphasize that political stability,through the resolution and prevention of conflict and the advancement of democratization is indispensable for development in Africa. To accomplish this, African countries must improve their capacity for conflict prevention, and should achieve good governance by ensuring the rule of law, administrative transparency and free and fair elections, within the context of their own culture and historical tradition. In regard to the conflicts that plague Africa at present, I would like to take this opportunity to strongly appeal to all of the parties involved for compassion and understanding, so that the mediating efforts being undertaken by African leaders can result in their peaceful resolution.

Fourth, we wish to emphasize South-South cooperation. In the context of this conference, the exchanges between Asia and Africa should be enhanced.Until the Middle Ages, there had been a relationship of trade and other exchanges between both continents over a thousand years. Unfortunately, those rich and valuable relations ceased to exist during the subsequent flow of history. But today, the TICAD process can offer an avenue for reactivation of relations between Africa and Asia to strengthen ties and to share development experiences. If this happened as we prepare for the 21st Century, it would be a historically significant achievement. And to promote this, Japan will continue actively to play a catalytic role.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

At present, Japan itself is facing great economic difficulties and severe financial circumstances. Nevertheless,led by the policy line I have just outlined, Japan will continue to play a leading role for development cooperation in Africa, in concert not only with other donor countries and international organizations but also with fellow Asian countries with interests in Africa. The primary themes for this conference are poverty reduction in Africa and integration of Africa into the world economy. We will strengthen our future actions in line with such strategies.

First, Japan will give increased importance on the very fundamental area of social development. We will therefore devote greater attention to assistance for basic human needs, including most importantly primary education, health and medical care, and the supply of clean and safe water.

Second, human resource development will be a special point of emphasis. We will pursue this, especially through South-South cooperation, in a way that makes the most of the experiences accumulated by Japan and other Asian countries. At present, Japan accepts annually around 1,000 Africans every year for technical and skill training in Japan. We will continue this, but in addition, we will provide financial and technical assistance to enable 2,000 African people to be trained over the next five years in third country training programs to be organized in Asia and northern Africa. Also, as part of this program, Japan will take advantage of the recently launched Japan-France-Malaysia Trilateral Cooperation framework for Africa.

Third, the critical role of the private sector must be recognised for African development. In order to foster the growth of the private sector in Africa, particularly through the promotion of trade with and investment from Asia, Japan will assist in establishing an "African Investment Information Service Centre" in an Asian country. In addition, we will support the organizing of an "Asia-Africa Business Forum" within the next year in order to help explore business opportunities for Asian and African enterprises. We welcome also the idea expressed by the private sector in the preparatory process of Ticad II to designate the year 2000 as the "Year for Small- and Medium-Sized Businesses in Africa". In carrying out these objectives, Japan wishes to collaborate closely with international organizations and other Asian countries, as well as with African countries.

Fourth, this year Japan has ratified the Convention to Combat Desertification and the Anti-Personnel Landmine Ban Convention, and thus we have made clear our commitment to addressing these global issues. Concerning land mines, we have already announced that, Japan intends to spend 10 billion yen over the next five years for mine clearance and support programs for mine victims in affected countries. We will be engaged in Africa as part of this financial and technical program, particularly in Southern Africa.

Fifth, Japan is well aware that many African countries are burdened with debt problems. Japan has extended up to now approximately 30 billion yen to African countries in debt relief grant aid. Because we consider it an urgent issue, we are giving serious consideration to expanding the number of both eligible countries and expanding the designated debt. In order to improve debt management capacities, Japan will launch debt management training in its technical cooperation programs and also their training activities. I sincerely urge the relevant organizations to further search for a durable solution for Africa's debt problems,including formulating a framework for the application of HIPC initiatives to post conflict indebted countries.

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Many countries in Asia, including Japan are in the grip of a severe economic crisis. However, as people say, a friend in need is a friend indeed. This is the spirit with which we approach the challenges of the times, and which indeed underlays TICADII, and for that reason I believe the holding of this Conference is significant.

For us to find a way out of adverse circumstances, it is necessary to grasp clearly the reality of the situation, and to move steadily forward to achieve our goals under action-oriented leadership.

In conclusion I invite you all to unite with us in applying a sweat and wisdom to open a path toward Africa's bright future?

Thank you.