Japan-Mozambique Summit Meeting and Working Lunch (Summary)
May 4, 2023
[Provisional translation]
On May 4, commencing at 10:05 a.m. local time (5:05 p.m. Japan time) for approximately 90 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, who is visiting Mozambique, held a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique, followed by a joint press accountment. The two leaders then had a working lunch from 12:10 p.m. local time (6:10 p.m. Japan time) for approximately 60 minutes. The summary of the summit meeting, joint press announcement and working lunch is as follows.
1. Introduction
(1) At the outset, President Nyusi welcomed Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to Mozambique and noted strong bilateral relations between Japan and Mozambique that have been built over a long period of time. President Nyusi also expressed his desire to further develop bilateral relations in various fields and to work closely together in the international community.
(2) In response, Prime Minister Kishida stated that Mozambique is also an important partner in promoting the New Plan for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” announced in March this year, and explained that on the occasion of this visit, the Public and Private Sector Joint Mission for Promoting Trade and Investment in Africa has been dispatched with the participation of approximately 50 business people. Prime Minister Kishida expressed his desire to have candid discussions with President Nyusi on bilateral relations and cooperation in the international arena with a view to ensuring that their discussion will be reflected in the discussions at the G7 summit this month, thereby strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. In addition, Prime Minister Kishida conveyed Japan’s intention to continue its support for the stabilization of the surrounding regions.
2. Bilateral relations
(1) Strengthening business relations
Prime Minister Kishida stated that Mozambique boasts one of the largest natural gas reserves in Africa and is a major country in Southern Africa rich in key mineral resources, and expressed Japan’s intention to encourage private sector investment in the country by Japanese companies. In response, President Nyusi expressed his expectations for the promotion of investment from Japan in many fields.
The two leaders agreed, in particular, to strongly encourage the resumption in the near future of the construction of production facilities for one of the largest LNG development projects in Africa, where Mitsui & Co. is investing, with support from the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI). The two leaders also confirmed that both Governments will continue to encourage the realization of tangible business results by taking advantage of the Public and Private Sector Joint Mission for Promoting Trade and Investment in Africa, which has been dispatched with the aim of expanding investment in Mozambique.
(2) Promotion of development cooperation
Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan intends to promote initiatives to improve productivity in the agriculture and food sectors in Mozambique through the use of technologies by Japanese companies, such as the development of infrastructure that will serve as the foundation for Mozambique’s economic growth, human resource development that will support Mozambique’s future in a wide range of fields, and trade in agricultural products using digital technology. In response, President Nyusi expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support to date and his expectations for cooperation in such fields as infrastructure and health.
3. Cooperation in the international arena
(1) Prime Minister Kishida stated that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a clear violation of international law, and stressed the importance of maintaining and strengthening the international order based on the rule of law. Prime Minister Kishida also stated that unilateral changes to the status quo by force are not acceptable anywhere in the world, and that Russia’s threat of nuclear weapons is intolerable, let alone their use. The two leaders confirmed that the two countries, both non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, will work closely together under such principles.
(2) Prime Minister Kishida also stated that it is important for the international community to concertedly speak out to ensure that all countries concerned comply with international rules and standards regarding development finance, and the two leaders confirmed the importance of transparent and fair development finance in compliance with international rules and standards.
(3) In addition, Prime Minister Kishida expressed his grave concern over the situation in Sudan and stated that Japan, as G7 Chair and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, intends take proactive initiatives, including through engagement of Ambassador for the Horn of Africa with the issue of Sudan. Furthermore, Prime Minister Kishida stated that, in order to respond to the worsening humanitarian situations in Sudan and its neighboring countries, Japan intends to urgently consider emergency humanitarian assistance in cooperation with the international community. The two leaders confirmed that the two countries, both nonpermanent members of the United Nations Security Council, will work closely together for the stabilization of Sudan.
(4) In addition, the two leaders discussed the situations in East Asia, such as responses to North Korea, including issues of its nuclear and missile programs and the abductions issue, regional situations in Africa, and the strengthening of the functions of the United Nations, including through the reform of the Security Council. The two leaders confirmed that the two countries, both non-permanent members of the Security Council, will work closely together.
