Latest news with #TokyoInternationalConferenceonAfricanDevelopment
TimesLIVE
11-06-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Mashatile defends ‘wasteful' expenditure on international trips
The office of Deputy President Paul Mashatile has defended his international travel expenses which have sparked criticism. In a parliamentary written reply, Mashatile provided a breakdown of his international travel costs for transport and accommodation since taking office last year. He said he has been on international trips to Ireland, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Japan which cost more than R2m. During his Japan trip, Mashatile was accompanied by several ministers and deputy ministers, including: minister of sport, arts and culture Gayton McKenzie; minister of agriculture John Steenhuisen; minister of higher education Dr Nobuhle Nkabane; minister of trade, industry and competition Parks Tau; deputy minister of international relations and cooperation Thandi Moraka; and deputy minister of science and innovation Nomalungelo Gina. Among other costs, Mashatile and his wife spent more than R900,000 on four nights' accommodation in Japan, sparking criticism from ActionSA, which called it 'wasteful expenditure' that could be spent on building decent homed for those in need. Mashatile's office clarified the deputy president did not 'misuse state funds or was extravagant in financing the costs of his international travel'. It said the visits were necessary to advance the global agenda. 'The office of the deputy president wishes to reiterate Mashatile undertakes all international working visits not in his personal capacity but on behalf of the government as delegated by President Cyril Ramaphosa. 'Moreover, the most these strategic international visits are aimed at strengthening existing bilateral, political, economic and diplomatic relations between SA and visited countries,' Mashatile's office said. His office reiterated the Japan visit was of the same importance. 'The Japan working visit achieved several key objectives, including representing the first high-level engagement between SA and Japan in the past 10 years, signalling an acknowledgment and appreciation for the long-standing relationship between the two countries based on a wide area of cooperation not limited to trade and investment. 'The visit was beneficial in terms of SA's African Agenda, the confluence of SA's G20 chairship and Japan's hosting of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in August, presenting a unique opportunity for SA to communicate its own and the continent's position and priorities to Japan and the expected support and role Japan could play in this regard.'
The Mainichi
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Japan PM, UN chief eye cooperation via Africa confab, expo
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres agreed Friday that they will discuss furthering cooperation on the occasions of an international conference on Africa and the World Exposition in Osaka. During their telephone conversation, Ishiba underscored the importance of the United Nations in tackling global challenges and expressed hope to work with Guterres in reforming the international body, the Japanese government said. Guterres was quoted as expressing his appreciation for Japan's support of U.N. activities. Diplomatic sources have said Guterres may visit Japan in late August for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development to be held in August in Yokohama and the expo, which runs until October in Osaka, western Japan.
The Mainichi
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Japan, Guinea-Bissau vow closer ties ahead of development conference
May 13, 2025 (Mainichi Japan) Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, right, and the president of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, shake hands ahead of their talks in Tokyo on May 12, 2025. (Kyodo) TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The leaders of Japan and Guinea-Bissau agreed on Monday to boost bilateral cooperation, including on food security, ahead of a Japan-hosted conference on African development this summer. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told the West African country's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo that he hopes that the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, to be held in late August in Yokohama, will become a forum to co-create solutions to the continent's challenges for their collective prosperity, according to the Foreign Ministry. During their meeting at his office in Tokyo, Ishiba also told Embalo that "peace and stability in Guinea-Bissau is important for the stability" of West Africa, while urging "transparent and fair" presidential and parliamentary elections in November. Embalo was quoted as saying he wants bilateral cooperation to deepen in "all areas," adding that the African nation places importance on TICAD. The two leaders discussed the situation in East Asia, including North Korea's past abductions of Japanese nationals, and the war between Russia and Ukraine, as they affirmed the importance of the rule of law, the government said. Embalo also visited the World Exposition in Osaka amid his first Japan trip since becoming president in 2020.
Zawya
20-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile concludes working visit to Japan
Deputy President Sipokosa Paulus Mashatile has successfully concluded his working visit to Japan aimed at reaffirming the strong cooperation between South Africa and Japan in areas of mutual interest. As the two countries mark 115 years of well established diplomatic relations, the year 2025 also marks a special milestone, with both countries chairing important multilateral organisations – South Africa's Presidency of the G20 and the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9) Summit led by Japan. During the working visit, the Deputy President met with Japanese Government officials, including paying a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr Ishiba Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan and Chief Cabinet Secretary Mr Yoshimasa Hayashi. The Deputy President expressed his appreciation for Japan's support for South Africa's Presidency of the G20 and looked forward to collaborating with Japan to ensure that TICAD-9 is a success. 'Since 1993, Japan has been hosting TICAD, which focuses on Japan's support of African development through public and private support of initiatives aimed at peace and stability, and growth in the private sector, infrastructure, human resources, climate change, and education. Indeed, South Africa and Africa have a reliable and respectable ally in Japan,' said the Deputy President. The Deputy President also met with the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Freindship League with the aim of strengthening bilateral relations and parliamentary cooperation between South Africa and Japan. The meeting emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation and highlighted the importance of the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship League in fostering stronger ties between Japan and African countries. The Deputy President also had an opportunity to engage with the representatives of the Japanese business community which included Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), Keidenran and the Association of the African Economy and Development in Japan Committee (AFRECO), with the objective of promoting trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries. During these engagements, the Deputy President highlighted South Africa's favourable business environment, skilled workforce and strategic location, making it an attractive destination for Japanese investment. Addressing concerns raised by the Japanese business community, the Deputy President reported on progress made in reducing the backlog and fast racking visa applications, government's commitment to ending loadshedding and ensuring safety for citizens and investors. The Deputy President is confident that these engagements will yield positive results, further strengthening the partnership between the two countries. 'As this delegation goes back to South Africa, we have a collective mandate to bring to life some of the discussions and agreements that we have had with our counterparts and other stakeholders here. We are motivated and will do everything it takes to make sure another 115 years, with sustainable economic, cultural and people-to-people benefits for the people of both our countries.' said Deputy President Mashatile. The Deputy President was supported by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Thandi Moraka; the Minister of Sport, Arts&Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie; the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane; the Minister of Agriculture Mr John Steenhuisen; the Minister of Trade Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau; and the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ms Nomalungelo Gina. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
Daily News Egypt
02-03-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Japan, Egypt strengthen strategic partnership amidst regional, humanitarian commitments
In celebration of the Emperor of Japan, Ambassador Fumio Iwai hosted a gathering that highlighted the enduring and exemplary relations between Japan and Egypt. Elevated to a strategic partnership in April 2023, these ties continue to thrive across diplomatic, economic, educational, and cultural sectors, reflecting mutual respect and deep cooperation. Strengthening Diplomatic Engagements Ambassador Iwai underscored the importance of recent high-level exchanges that have reinforced the partnership. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry's participation in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, Japanese State Minister Fuji's visit to Cairo last December, and Minister of Education Mohamed Abdel Latif's recent trip to Japan all demonstrate the two nations' commitment to strengthening their ties. Seven Decades of Development Cooperation For over 70 years, Japan has been a reliable partner in Egypt's development, contributing significantly to agriculture, education, infrastructure, and healthcare. Landmark projects such as the Egyptian Opera House, the Children's Hospital at Cairo University, and the Egyptian-Japanese University of Science and Technology (E-JUST) stand as testaments to this longstanding collaboration. Japan is also eagerly anticipating the grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a milestone that will further solidify its contributions to Egypt's cultural and tourism sectors. Advancing Educational Excellence Japan's commitment to education is evident in the adoption of Japanese learning methodologies in Egypt. Following President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's visit to Japan in 2016, Egypt began incorporating the Tokkatsu system, a holistic approach that fosters student responsibility, teamwork, and social skills. The initiative has led to the establishment of 100 Egyptian-Japanese Schools (EJS), bringing Japanese educational excellence to Egyptian students. E-JUST continues to serve as a hub for technological innovation and research, ranking among Egypt's top universities. Through such initiatives, Japan plays a crucial role in shaping Egypt's future leaders and innovators. Cultural Ties and Future Prospects Culturally, Japan and Egypt share deep connections. The Egyptian Opera House, rebuilt with Japanese support in 1988, remains a powerful symbol of their friendship. Additionally, the upcoming 'Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs' exhibition in Tokyo will showcase Egypt's rich heritage, further strengthening cultural appreciation between the two nations. Ambassador Iwai also expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming inauguration of GEM, emphasizing its potential as a global center of artifact preservation and management. Commitment to Regional Stability and Humanitarian Efforts Beyond bilateral cooperation, Japan has demonstrated a strong commitment to regional humanitarian efforts. Since October 2023, it has pledged nearly $230m in aid to Palestinians, reaffirming its role in fostering peace and stability in the region. The ambassador acknowledged Egypt's critical role in regional diplomacy and humanitarian assistance, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing ongoing challenges. As Japan and Egypt continue to deepen their strategic partnership, their shared vision for development, education, cultural exchange, and regional stability paves the way for a stronger, more prosperous future for both nations.
