Newsletter No. 675
News-Analysis
July 14, 2007

 

JAPAN-BURKINA FASO BILATERAL TALKS HELD IN TOKYO

On the Japanese version of the MOFA website is a report of Japan-Burkina Faso bilateral talks held in Tokyo on the 12th. Japan was represented by MOFA Director-General for Sub-Saharan African Affairs Shuichiro Megata, and Alain Francis Gustave Ilboudo came from Burkina Faso’s foreign ministry.

The MOFA announcement offered an eight-point summary of these talks, which we will present here in my English version:

1) Megata explained that the 4th International Conference on African Development would be held in Yokohama from May 28-30, 2008. Ilboudo praised Japan’s efforts and confirmed that Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore would attend the event. Megata went on to talk about Prime Minister Abe’s initiative called “Beautiful Planet 50.” Ilboudo welcomed this initiative too.

2) Ilboudo explained the political status of West Africa, especially in regard to Togo and Cote d'Ivoire.

3) The two sides exchanged opinions on UNSC reform and promised to maintain close cooperation on the issue. Megata requested support over Japan’s “North Korea Human Rights Situation Resolution.”

4) Ilboudo requested that Japan open an embassy in Ouagadougou in order to strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation.

5) Both sides agreed that a technical cooperation agreement should be concluded in the near future to strengthen the friendship.

6) Ilboudo expressed his country’s appreciation for Japan’s economic aid, and particularly mentioned the role of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. In the future, he requested aid to target the fields of basic education, the promotion of trade, health, human resources development, higher education, agriculture, and the environment.

7) Megata responded that Japan wished to improve the lives of Burkinabe through efforts to arrest the process of desertification, and would in the future target basic education, the protection of natural resources, agricultural development, and health.

8) The two sides agreed to hold their next such bilateral talks in Ouagadougou in July 2009.