News - Tuesday 2^nd May 2006

Japanese Prime Minister visits Ethiopia

Prime Ministers Meles Zenawi and Junichiro Koizumi take part in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi accorded a warm welcome to his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, on 30^th April at the National Palace during his three day visit to Ethiopia. During his stay, Koizumi and Prime Minister Meles held talks on bilateral and other issues of common interest before he went on to meet with Alpha Omar Konare, the Head of the African Union (AU) Commission, and address diplomats at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Speaking after their meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi said he’d "had very candid exchanges with Prime Minister Meles on regional issues as well as the reform of the AU and others.” Also under discussion were proposed reforms to the United Nations, of which Prime Minister Meles said Ethiopia supported Japan’s request to have a seat on the Security Council “because we don’t think it makes sense for the second largest economy in the World not to have a seat in the reformed Security Council.”

The AU has been calling for the UN Security Council to be expanded to 26 seats, with six new permanent veto-wielding seats, two of which would be reserved for Africa, and five new non-permanent seats, of which two would also be set aside for Africa.

During Prime Minister Koizumi’s visit – his first to Ethiopia – he reiterated Japan’s support for continued efforts to assist Africa in the consolidation of peace and the reduction of poverty through economic growth.

 
"Japan wishes to continue its cooperation so that African countries can develop their economies and stand on their feet," Koizumi said, adding that his country had pledged at last year’s G8 Summit to triple aid to Africa over the next three years.

“Japan has always followed through on its commitments, based on the principle that we provide what each country needs.”

Japan's aid grant to Africa for the year to March 2005 rose 13.5% from the previous year to 45 billion yen (US $390 million), and the country currently ranks as the fourth leading donor for Africa globally after France, the United States and Germany.

ENDS