Message of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the
occasion of the foundation of the African Union (AU)

July 9, 2002

His Excellency Mr. Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa, Chairman of the 38th OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, Mr. Amara Essy, OAU Secretary General, Heads of State of OAU Member Countries and Delegation Leaders, I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to all of you present on the convening of this 38th OAU Summit Meeting. I also wish to express my appreciation for the invitation extended to the Government of Japan to send a representative to this important meeting being held in the Republic of South Africa. I understand that this year's Summit Meeting will formally decide on the transformation of the OAU into the African Union (AU), with the aim of achieving a higher degree of political and economic integration in Africa. Since its inception in 1963, the OAU has demonstrated strong initiative in various areas such as conflict prevention and economic integration and has contributed significantly to Africa's development and the strengthening of solidarity in the continent. I would like to express my highest regards for these active roles the OAU has played and for the significant results it has achieved. At the same time, I firmly believe that, as the evolution into the AU proves increasingly successful, the AU will become the driving force for the realization of a bright future for Africa in the 21st century. I highly appreciate NEPAD, the New Partnership for Africa's Development, as a clear indication of the commitment by African nations to ownership of their own development. In my view, at the recent G8 Kananaskis Summit, G8 leaders and the leaders representing the African states were able to hold worthwhile exchanges of views on African development. Moreover, the G8 Africa Action Plan adopted at the Summit represents the G8's commitment to cooperate with African ownership under a spirit of partnership. Throughout the 1990s, when many countries' interest toward Africa cooled down considerably due to so-called donor fatigue, Japan remained constant in its efforts to promote the TICAD process and helped to make concrete cooperation between African and Asian countries. Recently, I announced Japan's own new strategy regarding Africa, "Solidarity Between Japan and Africa-Concrete Actions," which is based on the following three pillars. First, with the belief that nation-building begins with the development of human resources, Japan will put emphasis on "human-centered development." In this regard, Japan will extend over 250 billion yen (US$2 billion) over the next five years in assistance for education to low-income countries, including those in Africa, in addition to enhancing its assistance for basic education, based on Japan's "Basic Education for Growth Initiative" (BEGIN). Moreover, in order to bring about a true "Green Revolution" in Africa, Japan is supporting efforts for the development and dissemination of "NERICA Rice," a new hybrid of African and Asian rice. Second, Japan believes that it is necessary for developing countries not only to utilize development assistance, but also to mobilize a wide range of financial resources, including domestic capital, trade and investment. To achieve this, Japan is determined to continue to work towards the objective of duty-free and quota-free market access for all LDCs' products. From this point of view, I have taken the decision to examine immediately to expand coverage under duty-free and quota-free treatment for LDCs' products by the revisions of tariff-related laws for the next fiscal year which begins on 1 April, 2003. Third, Japan will provide support for the efforts of African countries for conflict resolution and peace building to ensure that their efforts will not be regressed. Henceforth, as we head toward TICAD III, which is scheduled to be convened in the latter half of 2003, Japan will contribute to the realization of African development in partnership with the African people through the steadfast implementation of the above-mentioned "Concrete Actions." Both TICAD and NEPAD are driven by the same fundamental spirit of ownership and partnership. In the run-up to TICAD III, Japan would like to strengthen the linkage between TICAD and NEPAD, and we would be very pleased and appreciative to receive the support of all of you in this regard. When we look at the situation in several countries and regions of Africa lately, we recognize once again just how important political stability is as a foundation for development, as is emphasized by NEPAD. From this perspective, the international community, including Japan, will be focusing much attention on the positive demonstration of initiative by the African countries following the launching of the AU. To help realize political stability in Africa, Japan has continued its support to the OAU's efforts for conflict prevention and resolution through our contributions to the OAU Peace Fund. Japan intends to continue these efforts for the resolution of conflicts in Africa. The World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held this summer from August to September in Johannesburg, South Africa, marks one of the most important summit-level events this year. The fact that this conference in which leaders from around the world meet to review the progress achieved since the Rio Summit, will be held in African continent striving to attain development, has significant meaning in itself. I would like to actively work with Your Excellency so that developing countries can realize growth without going through the same bitter experiences in environment Japan went through during the process of it's own nation-building and that the Summit will be directed toward concrete actions. As a friend of Africa, Japan will continue its unstinting efforts, in fostering dialogue and building up our collaboration with African countries, so that Africa can claim a bright future in the 21st century through such efforts by Africa as the launching of the AU and the creation of NEPAD. As an indication of Japan's commitment to Africa, I have decided to send Mr. Seiken Sugiura, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, who has visited over ten African countries and has a keen interest in Africa, to this historic summit meeting, in which the AU will formally be launched. Lastly, I would like to express my heartfelt desire for the further strengthening of ties between Japan and Africa and my sincere hope for the success of this summit meeting, the evolvement of the AU, and the continued health of you all. Junichiro Koizumi Prime Minister of Japan,