Minister Dlamini Zuma to depart from Moscow for TICAD IV

Moscow – South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on Sunday 25 May 2008 depart from Moscow, Russia for Yokohama, Japan ahead of President Thabo Mbeki’s arrival later in the week, for the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan from Wednesday – Friday 28-30 May 2008.

Minister Dlamini Zuma was in Moscow where she co-chaired, together with the Minister of Natural Resources Yuri Trutnev, the 7th session of the South Africa-Russia Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Co-operation from Thursday – Friday 22-23 May 2008.

The South African delegation will participate in TICAD IV that will be held under the banner of “Towards a Vibrant Africa: A Continent of Hope and Opportunity,” within the context of South Africa’s priority to consolidate relations with Japan with a view strengthening North-South relations.  In this regard, TICAD IV provides a valuable opportunity to promote the African Agenda as a priority with Japan and its development partners.

TICAD aims to consolidate peace, human centred development and poverty reduction through economic development through:

• Boosting Growth (Poverty Reduction through Economic Growth);
• Achieving the Millennium Development Goals;
• Consolidation of Peace and Democratisation; and
• Addressing Environmental Issues/Climate Change

It is expected that a Joint Committee for Monitoring TICAD Process, comprising of the African Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African countries and other relevant Japanese organisations (Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), will be established as a follow-up mechanism to TICAD IV.

This Committee, which would be expected to meet bi-annually, would report on the progress in the TICAD process and consult on the TICAD process.

The TICAD IV Summit is also expected to adopt the Yokohama Declaration and the Yokohama Plan of Action on conclusion of the Summit.

Japan will take the eventual outcomes of TICAD IV to the G8 Summit that it will host in Hokkaido, Japan in July this year.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

25 May 2008