Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Visits Japan

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane visited Japan and met with her Japanese counterpart, Mr Takeaki Matsumoto, on 2 June 2011. Minister Nkoana-Mashabane also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Kan and had numerous other bilateral meetings. Minister Nkoana-Mashabane also received feed-back from Senior Officials on the 11th South Africa-Japan Partnership Forum which took place on 1-2 June 2011 in Tokyo. The Partnership Forum and bilaterals took back-to-back to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Follow-up Meeting, 2 - 3 June 2011 in which the Minister participated.

The Ministerial Bilateral Meeting took place between Minister Nkoana-Mashabane and Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr Takeaki Matsumoto, on 2 June 2011. During the meeting, bilateral relations, Africa and regional matters and key multilateral issues were constructively discussed. The discussions gave concrete content to the Strategic Co-operative Partnership between the two countries. The Technical Cooperation Agreement, which will further facilitate project co-operation, was also signed by the two Ministers during this meeting.

It can be recalled that during the 10th SA-Japan Partnership Forum, co-chaired by Minister Nkoana-Mashabane and former Japanese Foreign Minister Okada, in South Africa in April 2010, it was agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to the level of a Strategic Co-operative Partnership. Whilst in Japan, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane met again with Mr Okada who is now the Secretary-General of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and the mutual desire to actively promote South Africa Japan relations was emphasized.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Naoto Kan during which he stressed the importance of further strengthening the bilateral relation between South Africa and Japan. He also stated that Japan was very much looking forward to President Zuma’s proposed official visit to Japan at the earliest possible date.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane also met with key business leaders through the Keidanren, the most important business organisation in Japan. Japan has consistently been one South Africa’s top trading partners. In fact, in 2008, Japan was South Africa’s biggest trading partner globally totaling R106 billion. Foreign Direct Investment from Japan to South Africa is rapidly growing and totaled R30 billion in 2010 alone. The number of Japanese companies in South Africa rose to 102 in November 2010 (compared to 86 in November 2009). Japanese companies employ more than 150 000 South Africans and make a significant contribution with regard to job creation and skills transfer. In 2010, Japan was SA’s third largest export destination by country, and third overall two-way trade partner, with a healthy trade surplus for SA of R15,3bn, the only one of SA’s major trading partners with which SA enjoys a regular and large annual trade surplus. Two-way trade in 2010 amounted to R80 billion.

Other constructive meetings during the visit included a meeting with the DPJ Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Diet and with the Japanese Minister of Environment to discuss climate change issues and the upcoming COP17. Minister Nkoana-Mashabane also paid a courtesy call on HIH Princess Takamado at her Imperial Residence. Princess Takamado had visited South Africa during the FIFA World Cup 2010 as she is the Honorary Patron of the Japan Football Association. She had been very impressed with South Africa and apart from following some matches had managed to enjoy South Africa’s prolific birdlife.

A moving and emotional meeting was held with the Japanese Anti-Apartheid campaigners who informed Minister Nkoana-Mashabane about their 50-year history of support for the Anti-Apartheid movement in Japan as well of their support to the ANC office in Japan. Minister Nkoana-Mashabane was eager to see that the leader of this Group visit South Africa for the ANC’s centennial celebration next year.

The 11th session of the South Africa-Japan Partnership Forum took place in Tokyo on 1-2 June 2011. Senior Officials of both Governments convened on these days in the following Working Groups: • Economic Partnership • Trade and Investment • Development Co-operation, Human Resources and Science and Technology • Climate Change

The MDG Follow-up Meeting was co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Despite the Great East Japan Earthquake and ensuing tragedy of tsunami and nuclear disaster, which the Japanese are still grappling with, the Japanese Foreign Ministry decided to go ahead and hold the MDG Follow-up Meeting to show their appreciation for the assistance and solidarity they had received from the international community. The Japanese Government was of the opinion that despite its own difficult circumstances, it wanted to show it still stands ready to assist developing countries attain the MDGs. Japan believes that it is important to discuss and share best practices etc at this MDG Follow-up Meeting to see how the MDGs can be achieved in the remaining 5 years till 2015. Japan would like to see actions and co-ordination accelerated and improved by nations and stakeholders to reach the most vulnerable, such as children and the marginalized, and to achieve equity.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane delivered an address during the closing Plenary on 3 June 2011 in the wrap up and way forward session where she constructively highlighted the targets to be prioritized. Minister Nkoana-Mashabane also indicated that a SADC country might host the next MDG Follow-up Meeting in 2013.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane also had bilateral meetings with the Executive Director of UNICEF, Mr Anthony Lake and with the Administrator of the UNDP, Ms Helen Clark in the margins of the MDG Follow-up Meeting in order to strengthen the co-operation between South Africa and these key UN agencies. During Minister Nkoana-Mashabane’s visit, she also had press interviews and a press conference at the Japan National press Centre where she lifted out the excellent bilateral relations between South Africa and Japan, particularly the growing economic ties.

The visit of Minister Nkoana-Mashabane to Japan was very fruitful and has further consolidated and promoted the co-operation and friendship ties between the two countries.