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What's up around the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Visits Africa and Europe (Ethiopia)


Saturday, April 29 to Monday, May 1, 2006



Photograph of Prime Minister taking part in the welcome ceremony of Ethiopia Photograph of Prime Minister Koizumi shaking hands with Prime Minister Meles Photograph of the Japan-Ethiopia Summit Meeting
Photograph of Prime Minister observing the Groundwater Development and Water Supply Training Center Photograph of Prime Minister Koizumi shaking hands with Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU) Konare Photograph of Prime Minister delivering a statement on African policy

Click photographs to enlarge



Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi left on the government plane from Haneda Airport on April 29 for a three-nation tour to visit Ethiopia, Ghana, and Sweden. He arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the same night (Japan time: early morning of April 30).

On the morning of April 30 (Japan time: afternoon of April 30), Prime Minister Koizumi took part in the welcome ceremony at the official presidential residence of Ethiopia, and then held a meeting with Mr. Meles Zenawi, the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. During the meeting, the two leaders agreed on the necessity to reform the United Nations (UN) Security Council. Furthermore, Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his intention to continue active assistance for Africa.

In the afternoon, Prime Minister Koizumi observed the Groundwater Development and Water Supply Training Center in the suburb of Addis Ababa, which had been established with the aid from Japan and accepts trainees from countries across Africa.

On the morning of May 1 (Japan time: afternoon of May 1), Prime Minister Koizumi visited the headquarters of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa and held a meeting with Mr. Alpha Oumar Konare, the Chairperson of the AU Commission. During the meeting, Mr. Konare expressed his gratitude for Japan's stance to attach importance to Africa and its assistance to Africa. The meeting also covered expectations for the roles to be played by the AU and the reform of the UN Security Council.

After the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi delivered a statement on African policy. He expressed Japan's intention to cooperate toward assistance for "Africa to stand on its own" through the provision of funds to solve conflicts, measures for economic growth, medical assistance, countermeasures for infectious diseases, among others.

In the afternoon (Japan time: night of May 1), Prime Minister Koizumi left for Ghana, the next destination of the tour.