Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
The first-ever session of the Partnership Forum agreed upon between Deputy President Thabo Mbeki and then Japanese Prime Minister Ruytaro Hashimoto in Tokyo in April 1998, was held in Pretoria on 13 and 14 January 1999, on the occasion of Mr Hashimoto is currently Senior Foreign Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister of Japan.
The Japanese delegation was headed by Mr Kaoru Ishikawa, Deputy Director-General of Middle East and African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the South African delegation was headed by Ms Thuthu Mazibuko, Deputy Director-General, Asia and Middle East, Department of Foreign Affairs. Officials from the Department/Ministries dealing with Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry, Arts and Culture, Science and Technology, Education and Sport also attended the Partnership Forum meeting.
The two sides discussed the Asian financial crisis and the Japanese side gave a briefing on their actions to stimulate the Japanese economy and to resolve the financial crisis. The situation in Southern Africa, including the DRC, was also discussed and both shared the view that notwithstanding certain negative developments in Africa, a great deal that was positive was also taking place on the African continent which was not receiving due attention internationally. Both sides were also in agreement that there should be a follow-up to the Second Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD II), which took place in Tokyo in October 1998.
Reform of the UN system and disarmament issues were also discussed and on these two matters Japan and South Africa shared many similar viewpoints. Both countries agreed on closer cooperation in the area of demining, taking advantage of South Africa's experience and unique technology in this field.
Both sides agreed on closer cooperation in various sectors, including the development of products for which there would be a market in Japan, the promotion of tourism from Japan to South Africa, the development of SMMEs in South Africa, and science, culture and sport. Japan will send several delegations to South Africa to follow up on the discussions.
The discussions of the Partnership Forum meeting took place in a cordial and constructive atmosphere and both agreed that the momentum of the Partnership Forum should be maintained.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
15 JANUARY 1999