ADDIS ABABA
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday reiterated his country's desire to enhance its partnership with African countries.
"The 21st century seems the century of Africa," he told local and foreign journalists.
"Japan wants to be Africa's partner – a partner that grows together with Africa," added Abe, who arrived in Addis Ababa on Monday.
He went on to say that Japanese assistance to Africa was currently focused on infrastructure development, women's economic empowerment, industrial development, the promotion of cleaner technologies, and capacity building.
Africa and Japan have already established a cooperation framework under the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).
TICAD was launched in 1993 to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners.
The organization has since evolved into a major global framework that aims to facilitate the implementation of initiatives for promoting African development.
Abe welcomed ongoing mediation efforts by African countries, including Ethiopia, aimed at resolving the conflict in South Sudan.
He said that peace initiatives for the continent's various problems should be spearheaded by African countries themselves.
South Sudan has been shaken by violence since mid-December, when President Salva Kiir accused sacked vice-president Riek Marchar of standing behind a failed coup attempt against his regime.
The two warring rivals are currently engaged in peace talks in Addis Ababa in an attempt to resolve the crisis.
The Japanese premier has already met with his Ethiopian counterpart, Hailemariam Desalegn.
By Mohamed Taha Tawakel
englishnews@aa.com.tr
