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On August 28, 2019 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, visited Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture to attend the opening ceremony of the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) and other events.
 
The Prime Minister held meetings respectively with H.E. Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E. Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, H. E. Mr. David M. Beasley, Executive Director of The UN World Food Programme (WFP).
 
In the afternoon, the Prime Minister attended a symposium hosted by the Sasakawa Africa Association, and an event hosted by the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum, where he gave speeches. Thereafter, the Prime Minister visited the Japan-Africa Business Forum & Expo, followed by a meeting with H.E. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa. The Prime Minister then participated in a photo session, and then delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony and plenary session on the topic of “An Overview of African Development and its Future”.
 
The Prime Minister then held meetings respectively with H.E. Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Mr. Noureddine Bedoui, Prime Minister of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, President of the Republic of Mali, H.E. Professor Alpha Conde, President of the Republic of Guinea, H.E. Mr. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, President of the Republic of Togo, and H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
 
Lastly, the Prime Minister hosted a welcome reception with the Mayor of Yokohama.
 
At the welcome reception with the Mayor of Yokohama, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Yokohama. Six years ago, we held this reception at this very same place, and today twice the number of guests have joined us. You might find it a bit cramped; I would appreciate it if you bear with me for a while.
 
This year, Yokohama is celebrating its 160 anniversary since the opening of the Yokohama port, as the city that first opened its port to the world. The city has been developing through its interactions with the world.
 
Yokohama hosted TICAD twice previously and this is the third time that it hosts the conference. TICAD has not only opened up the opportunities for the city’s businesses to expand into Africa but also catalyzed various mutual exchanges and collaborations with Africa.
 
We can thus say that Yokohama is an ideal location to host TICAD7, a stage to discuss topics such as growth in Africa, said to be the world’s greatest frontier in the 21^st century, and the future of Africa, Japan and the world.
 
As we open TICAD7, I would like to once again express my deep appreciation for the efforts Mayor Hayashi and everyone involved in the city of Yokohama.
 
This is also my third TICAD to attend. Today, 42 leaders from across the continent of Africa have gathered here. Allow me to offer my heartfelt appreciation to all the leaders attending TICAD for your enthusiasm and friendship.
 
We have a record-breaking number of leaders in attendance. The seeds planted at TICAD V in 2013, which I chaired for the first time, have grown splendidly through TICAD VI in Nairobi in 2016. I am looking forward to discussing with you what we can do now to make the flower of Japanese and African cooperation bloom enormously and bear abundant fruits at TICAD7.
 
As my speech will soon be ending, you do not have to worry. I hope you have a good time at tonight’s reception, forgetting about work and making yourself at home for a while. Tonight’s program is the performances of Japanese taiko drums and MIYAVI, a guitarist of worldwide renown and Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
 
I would now like to close my remarks by extending my wish for the success of TICAD7, and that Africa and Japan continue to develop hand-in-hand and grow together. Thank you.”