Tuesday, May 22, 2001
| In the presence of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Olusegun Obasanjo, Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sule Lamido exchange documents concerning grant aid for increased food production assistance and cultural grant aid |
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Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met with President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Following talks, a signing ceremony were held in the presence of the two leaders, and official documents were exchanged for "Grant Aid for Increased Food Production Assistance" and "Cultural Grant Aid for the Extension of Program Software to Nigeria's State-owned Television Station."
Further events included a welcome dinner hosted by Prime Minister Koizumi, at which the Prime Minister noted, "Today's meeting with President Obasanjo was my first opportunity to exchange views with an African leader since assuming office. I have the distinct impression that Nigeria and Africa are starting to enter the 21st century with a new vigor, and our meeting was truly significant in that it enabled me to ascertain the direction of Japan's foreign policy on Africa, and not only confirm Japan-Nigeria relations." Prime Minister Koizumi further stated, "the Government of Japan has resolved to develop cooperation with Africa with "development support and conflict prevention/refugee aid" acting as though they were two wheels of a cart, and intends to be unsparing in its cooperation toward the reform efforts of President Obasanjo and the people of Nigeria." |