The Leaders of Japan and the United Kingdom Visit Kyoto
Cabinet Secretariat, Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Kyoto City with the Rt Hon Theresa May MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
The leaders conversed during a tea ceremony at Omotesenke Fushin’an in the city of Kyoto. Afterwards, they went to the Kyoto State Guest House and took a walk in the Japanese garden. Prime Minister Abe then hosted an informal dinner inviting Prime Minister May and other officials.
Later, the leaders boarded Tokaido Shinkansen and continued their conversation en route to Tokyo.
Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting
Foreign Affairs, Friday, August 25, 2017
The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting was held in Maputo, the Republic of Mozambique, on August 24 and August 25. The overview is as follows. Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Manabu Horii, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Arata Takebe Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment attended from Japan. Foreign Minister Kono served as co-chair along with representatives of the co-organizers (the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and the African Union Commission (AUC)). Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Oldemiro Júlio Marques Baloi attended from the host country Mozambique, and President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi was also present at the Opening Session and gave the welcome address.
1 Attendees and schedule
(1) Attendees
Representatives of 51 African countries (17 foreign ministers, 9 other ministers, 12 ministerial level officials) as well as development partner countries and Asian countries, international and regional organizations, and civil society, etc. participated in the TICAD Ministerial Meeting.
(2) Schedule
Thu., August 24
Opening Session (Remarks by Foreign Minister Kono)
Fri., August 25
Plenary Session 1 (Overview of Progress since TICAD V) (Remarks by Foreign Minister Kono)
Plenary Session 2 (Economic Transformation for Africa’s Growth) (Remarks by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Horii)
Plenary Session 3 (Promoting Human Security and Resilient Society) (Remarks by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Horii)
Closing Session (Remarks by Foreign Minister Kono)
Joint Press Conference
2 Overview of the conference
At the Opening Session, Foreign Minister Kono stated that TICAD VI last year raised the partnership of Japan and Africa to a new level and that he wanted to work together with Africa toward realization of the “Agenda 2063” of the African Union (AU). Furthermore, he mentioned the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy” announced by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the occasion of TICAD VI, and emphasized the importance of strengthening connectivity between Asia and Africa through maritime order based on the principles of international law such as freedom of navigation as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and quality infrastructure investment. Moreover, he explained that in order to develop an environment to encourage private sector investment in Africa Japan is advancing negotiations for investment agreements.
Foreign Minister Kono explained in his speech at Plenary Session 1 that Japan has implemented initiatives worth approximately 5 billion dollars in line with the three pillars of the Nairobi Declaration (economic diversification and industrialization, health, and social stability) since last year, and that the total value of the initiatives from 2013 when TICAD V was held until 2016 had reached 26.7 billion dollars. He also stated that initiatives to further encourage private sector investment are important. Furthermore, he introduced good practices in African development using trilateral cooperation among Japan and other countries as evidence that TICAD is an open and inclusive forum.
At Plenary Session 2, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Manabu Horii presented the progress of initiatives to encourage private sector investment including industrial human resources development through the ABE Initiative and financing from government agencies into projects by private sector companies, etc. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of ensuring economic feasibility and debt sustainability when strengthening connectivity through quality infrastructure investment, and stated that it was necessary for key infrastructures, including international ports, to be in accordance with international standards and be operated in a fair, open, and highly transparent way.
At Plenary Session 3, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Manabu Horii introduced initiatives for achieving sustainable and inclusive development, based on the concept of human security, such as capacity building to fight against infectious diseases, including cooperation in the health field toward promotion of universal health coverage (UHC) for resilient health systems as well as contributions for social stability in the areas including agriculture, food security and vocational training for young people. Furthermore, he pointed out the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and unimpeded lawful commerce for peace, stability and prosperity in the region, and stated that from this perspective it is necessary to maintain a rules-based maritime order based on the international laws as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Furthermore, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Takebe reported on the side-event on “African Clean Cities Platform.”
The “TICAD Progress Report 2017” and “Japan’s Initiatives 2017” were officially presented as the outcome documents of the Ministerial Meeting, and the overview of the discussions has been compiled as the Co-chairs’ Summary.
1. Meetings held by Minister for Foreign Affairs Kono and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Manabu Horii with attendees from African countries
Minister for Foreign Affairs Kono paid courtesy call on President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa who happened to be in Maputo. He also held separate meetings with 11 ministers from Africa. Furthermore, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Horii held separate meetings with 8 ministerial-level participants from Africa.
2. Side event “Dialogue with Private Sector from Japan and Africa
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Manabu Horii attended the side-event “Dialogue with Private Sector from Japan and Africa” held on August 24 and gave an address in which he stated that private sector companies play an extremely large role to play in encouraging the development and economic growth of Africa, and that TICAD provides an important platform for public-private coordination. He also told that he is confident that Japanese companies’ advanced technical capabilities will contribute to solving the developmental challenges of Africa. Ernesto Max Elias Tonela, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Mozambique and Dr. Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry, Republic of South Africa attended the event with other African Ministers, 49 Japanese private companies and a total of more than 400 participants from 130 African private companies. Furthermore, a signing ceremony for 5 MoU between 5 Japanese companies and 3 African countries was held at the event.
3. Side event hosted by UNDP: Launching Ceremony of the Report about the Trend of Income Inequality in Sub Sahara Africa
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Manabu Horii attended a launching ceremony of the Report about the Trend of Income Inequality in Sub Sahara Africa held on August 24 and told that, to continue the stable economic development in Africa, it is important that benefits of economic growth will spread to whole society and that for this purpose, investment to human resource, maintenance of domestic system, enhancement of productivity and reform of economic structure are critical. This side event was organized by UNDP and participated by African countries and UN agencies including the World Bank.
4. Side event “African Clean Cities Platform”
Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment Arata Takebe attended the TICAD Ministerial Meeting side event “African Clean Cities Platform” held on August 24 and gave an address in which he stated that realization of clean cities will not only bring about healthy lives but also attract tourists and the investment that is necessary for the sustainable development of Africa. He also told that Japan intends to continue collaborating closely with African countries by utilizing this platform together to implement concrete initiatives, such as human resources development and the promotion of the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) for better waste management, etc. and continue collaborating closely with the African countries.
Press Occasion on North Korea’s Missile Launch (First Occasion on August 29)
Cabinet Secretariat, Tuesday, August 29, 2017
[Provisional Translation]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press occasion at the Prime Minister's Office.
In regard to North Korea's missile launch, the Prime Minister said,
“It appears that North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards Japan and that it flew over Japan. We will immediately gather and analyze information. In addition, we will take all possible measures to fully protect the lives of the Japanese people.”
Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary on North Korea’s Missile Launch (August 29)
Cabinet Secretariat, Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary on North Korea’s Missile Launch
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
1. At around 5:58 am today, North Korea launched a ballistic missile that flew over Cape Erimo (Erimo-misaki), Hokkaido in Japan. The Government of Japan is taking every possible means including necessary measures such as safety checks of vessels at sea and aircraft in the air, as well as safety confirmation for the regions where the missile was deemed to have flown over. No damage has been reported as of now.
2. The countries concerned including Japan as well as the international community have repeatedly urged North Korea to fully comply with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions among others, condemned North Korea’s repeated provocations including nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches , and urged the abandonment of its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile development program. In addition, this month, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2371, which strongly condemns North Korea’s launches of the ICBM-class ballistic missiles twice in July, and which expands and enhances sanctions on North Korea considerably. Despite the fact that the international community had just lodged once again a unified protest and warning to North Korea to ensure that these acts never happen again, it belligerently launched another ballistic missile; It is totally unacceptable.
3. Since last year, North Korea has launched more than 30 ballistic missiles that could become the delivery means of weapons of mass destruction and has conducted two nuclear tests, which pose a grave and a more serious threat to the security of Japan and the international community as a whole. Furthermore, it appears that the missile launched today flew over Japan and fell into the Pacific Ocean to the east of Hokkaido. This represents a grave and serious threat to the security of Japan as well as threatens the peace and security of the Asia-Pacific region; it is also an extremely problematic act from the perspective of ensuring the safety of aircraft and vessels. These actions by North Korea violate the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, and is also against the spirit of the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. Japan lodges its serious protest and condemns North Korea in the strongest terms.
4. Japan, once again, strongly urges North Korea to immediately and fully implement the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions as well as to take concrete actions towards resolving outstanding issues of concern including the abductions issue as well as nuclear and missile programs in a comprehensive manner.
5. Based on the instruction by the Prime Minister, the Government of Japan will continue to take every possible means to ensure the peace and security of its country and the safety of its people, and will take the following measures:
(1) Reconfirm whether there have been any damages caused by the launch, including fallen objects, focusing on the areas where the missile was judged to have flown;
(2) Provide relevant information to the public accordingly and accurately;
(3) Make every effort in collecting and analyzing information including forthcoming moves by North Korea;
(4) Tirelessly ensure the necessary readiness and collaborate closely with countries including the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) so as to prevent contingencies and take all possible responses should one occur; and
(5) Continue to steadily implement Japan’s measures, including those decided in July and August 2017, and the measures based on the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. As a member of the UN Security Council, Japan will further strengthen the cooperation and collaboration with countries concerned including the United States, the ROK, China, and Russia as well as the international community, and ensure the effectiveness of the UN Security Council Resolution 2371 and other relevant resolutions. Swiftly review firm responses against North Korea, including further responses by the UN Security Council.
6. We ask our citizens to remain calm and continue on with their daily lives and activities as usual.
Press Occasion on the Japan-US Summit Telephone Talk (North Korea Missile launch) (August 29)
Cabinet Secretariat, Tuesday, August 29, 2017
[Provisional Translation]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press occasion at the Prime Minister's Office on August 29, 2017.
In regard to the Japan-U.S. Summit Telephone Talk with President Donald Trump, the Prime Minister said,
"In response to the outrageous act to launch missile flying over Japanese territories, I held an urgent telephone talk with President Donald Trump. We spent around 40 minutes and had in-depth discussions over the analysis and view of this North Korea's missile launch as well as possible responses we should take.
Japan and the United States completely share its view. Both parties completely agreed that the missile launch by North Korea was an unprecedented, grave and serious threat and hold an emergency meeting at the United Nations so as to further strengthen pressure over North Korea.
At the same time, President Trump showed its strong commitment to Japan's defense, with the view that the U.S. is 100 % with its ally, Japan.
Under this robust Japan-U.S. Alliance, I will continuously make every effort to protect the lives and assets of the Japanese people. I believe that we should change North Korea's policy by putting strong pressure on North Korea, cooperating among Japan, the U.S. and the Republic Korea while urging China, Russia and the international community to be fully engaged.
Press Occasion on the Japan-U.S. Summit Telephone Talk
Cabinet Secretariat, Tuesday, August 29, 2017
[Provisional Translation]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press occasion at the Prime Minister's Official Residence on August 31, 2017.
In regard to the Japan-U.S. Summit Telephone Talk with President Donald Trump, the Prime Minister said,
“Continuing on from yesterday, I held a Japan-U.S. Summit Telephone Talk with President Trump. We discussed the current situation in North Korea. We analyzed the latest conditions, and discussed our responses going forward. We completely shared a view of the current situation in North Korea and on responses going forward, although I cannot discuss these responses here now.
Today, I also held telephone talks with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Prime Minister Turnbull of Australia. Additionally, I had an in-depth discussion about North Korea with Prime Minister May of the United Kingdom, who is currently visiting Japan. Each leader completely agreed that North Korea’s launch of a missile over Japanese territories was an extremely dangerous act, and that the international community must increase the pressure placed on North Korea.
With cooperation among Japan, the United States, and the ROK, as well as the United Kingdom and the rest of the international community, we should cause North Korea to change its policies by increasing the pressure on North Korea. I would like to have even closer cooperation for this purpose.”
