Japan’s PM visits four African countries before G7 summit

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is slated to visit four African countries namely Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique, ahead of the G7 summit scheduled May 19-21 in the Asia country.

The office of the Prime Minister said Kishida hopes to strengthen ties with the so-called Global South, or emerging and developing countries mainly in the Southern Hemisphere.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told media that the Prime Minister will hold talks with leaders of major African countries and reiterate his determination to maintain and strengthen the international order based on the rule of law.

“It will be of great significance to host the [G7] summit after confirming cooperation on the Ukraine conflict and efforts for regional peace and stability,” Matsuno said.

The tour will be the first by the Japanese Prime Minister to the continent since taking office in October 2021.

He was expected to visit Tunisia last year in August in the framework of Japan-African Development summit but the plan was canceled as he contracted COVID-19. He attended the conference online.