Government of Japan. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Japan hosted TICAD IV in Yokohama during May 28-30, 2008, and will host the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in July 2008. Japan, as the host country of these two international conferences, will reflect the outcomes of TICAD IV in the discussions at the G8 Summit and have the voices of African countries heard by the world.
Japan will continue to lead international discussions on African development, capitalizing on its experiences with the TICAD process.
Since the first Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD I) in 1993, when concern was voiced over declining international attention to Africa following the end of the Cold War, the Japanese Government has been leading international discussions on African development by advocating the importance of ownership of Africa and partnership with the international community.
"For Japan, the process of reconstruction after the Second World War taught us how important support from our friends is, and how much that support helped us in our reconstruction and development. This is the true nature of "partnership." This idea of partnership should be shared beyond Japan. I would like to see an exchange of insights and experiences between Africa and Asia, and I hope very much that we can build such partnerships."
"Throughout its history, the TICAD process has represented the bright future and great potential of Africa. Now together with the countries of Africa, Japan is determined to make the 21st century the "century of African growth."
H.E. Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister of Japan, at the Opening Session.