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President Thabo Mbeki, accompanied by Mrs Mbeki and Ministers, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Alec Erwin, Valli Moosa, Ben Ngubane and Thoko Didiza, will visit Japan on a State Visit from 1-3 October 2001.

A State Call will be paid on Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan, who will host a State Dinner in honour of the President, Mrs Mbeki and the delegation.

Discussions will also be held between the President and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

The objective of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations and to increase high-level dialogue over a wide range of issues.

In the last decade, Japan has consistently been among South Africa's top three trade partners internationally and South Africa's most important trade partner in Asia. In 2000, total trade was for R31.7 billion. After the democratic transformation in 1994, Japanese FDI in South Africa increased from virtually nothing to US 500 million dollars. Since 1994, the Japanese Government has granted two substantial ODA packages to South Africa. South Africans have also participated in a variety of capacity training programmes in Japan.

In international fora South Africa and Japan, share several common interests, including the reform of the UN system, disarmament, the peaceful resolution of conflict and sustainable development as the best guarantor of peace, prosperity and stability.

The aligning of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) process with the Millennium Africa Recovery Plan (MAP - New African Initiative) and the preparations for a TICAD III scheduled for 2003, will be amongst the major issues to be discussed with Japan.

TICAD is based on the principles of ownership and partnership. Since this is precisely the foundation upon which the New African Initiative is built, there is a great deal of synergy between TICAD and the New African Initiative.

Further the priority areas of TICAD and closely paralleled by those of the New African Initiative: technology transfer, infrastructure development, human resource development and reform of the health sector.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is pleased that Japan has unveiled an African policy. This indicates the seriousness with which Japan treats its relationship with South Africa, and indeed the whole of Africa. Further, Japan recognises that South Africa is the gateway to the SADC region.

While the relationship between Japan and South Africa is already clearly defined, this State Visit will further cement this young, growing relationship.

BACKGROUND

Japan re-established full diplomatic relations with SA on 13 January 1992. Since then, the bilateral relationship has expanded across a wide spectrum.

In 1993, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) was initiated. It aimed to revive declining international development aid to Africa after the end of the Cold War and support self-help efforts by African nations. Five principles for future assistance to Africa were outlined:

1. Assistance for democratisation;
2. Assistance for economic reform;
3. Assistance for human resource development;
4. Assistance for the conservation of the environment; and
5. Effective and efficient assistance.

At TICAD II, in 1998, the Tokyo Agenda for Action was adopted.

TICAD III is scheduled for 2003. Japan sees The New African Initiative as returning the control of the development of Africans to themselves. The TICAD process should become part of the NAI.

During the visit of then Deputy President Thabo Mbeki to Japan in April 1998, the groundwork was laid for the Japan-SA Partnership Forum, that would be co-chaired by Ministers to strengthen co-operation in international affairs, trade and investment, economic co-operation, science and technology, and cultural exchanges. To date, this Forum has convened three times.

Japan is an influential member of the G-8, a major player in the IMF and the World Bank Group.

Japan is responsible for (of Asia's GDP. The Japanese economy is the locomotive that drives the economies of East and South-East Asia.

With a current population of 126 million, Japan has a GDP of just under US $40 000.00 per head

The Japanese economy is based on government-industry co-operation, a strong work ethic and a mastery of high technology.

Japan contributes 20% of the running costs to the UN - more than the combined contributions of four members of the Security Council - viz. UK, France, Russia, China

Since 1989, Japan has ranked as the world's top official development assistance donor (ODA) - US $13 billion. Japan views ODA as an important foreign policy instrument to strengthen international peace, stability and security. In 1994 and 1999, packages of US $1.5 billion each were granted to SA.

Japan is currently SA's 3rd or 4th most important trade partner internationally and SA's most important trade partner in Asia. In 2000, total bilateral trade amounted to R31.6 million - SA exports to Japan = R16.8 billion, Japan exports to SA = R14.8 billion.

As a significant global player, Japan is in a position to support the interests of South Africa especially with regard to the New African Initiative (Japan is a powerful member of the G-8).

At the G8 Summit held in Japan in 2000, the Japanese government committed itself to a DotCom Force and funding to bridge the Digital Divide in countries of the South.

Contact: Ronnie Mamoepa at 082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs, 26 September 2001