News Feature
Newsletter 14
Koizumi's Visit Deepens Bilateral Relations
Ethiopia and Japan enjoy a long-standing diplomatic ties. Over the past two decades the two countries have taken steps to further enhance bilateral relations through economic cooperation and high-level official visits.
The recent historical visit paid by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Ethiopia explains well the level of bilateral relationship between the two countries. It is believed that the visit will deepen the fraternal ties between the two countries.
In his two-day official visit from April 30 to May 1st, 2006, Prime Minister Junichiro met with his Ethiopian counterpart Meles Zenawi to discuss issues of cooperation and development assistance, among others.
Mr. Junichiro on the occasion promised to enhance his government's Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Ethiopia in the coming three years.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi with
Japanese Premier Minister Junichiro Koizumi
Japan's annual aid to Ethiopia stands at forty to fifty million dollars. Technical assistance and training are also among the areas of cooperation the country engages in to further strengthen its historical relationship with Ethiopia.
Prime Minister Meles paid an official visit to Japan in 1996, where agreements destined to deepen the bilateral ties were signed.
Prime Minister Koizumi's visit has also significantly contributed for the enhancement of understanding and support to the Tokyo International Conference for African Development, TICAD, in which Ethiopia is actively engaged in efforts to achieve its set goals.
Supporting various development activities in Ethiopia, Japan remains one of its main economic partners. The country highly contributes to the infrastructural sector and renders technical cooperation as well as humanitarian and other project -based aid.
Whereas the TICAD holds as motto "Ownership-Partnership", it emphasizes on countries taking their own initiative in matters of development. Ethiopia, owing to its development programs, is among the African nations benefiting from the program.
Ethiopia had hosted the TICAD Conference on the Consolidation of Peace in February 2006.
Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia Kenjiro Izumi said that the two countries are enjoying an excellent bilateral relationship more than ever before.
The recent visit by H.E. Mr. Koizumi, according to the ambassador, would further strengthen the existing cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
With regard to bilateral trade, the two countries are witnessing an encouraging growth in trade volume whereby Ethiopia's export to Japan has been steadily growing.
The Government of Ethiopia, committed to its development agenda, has achieved successive economic growth in the past three years. Japan hails the growth attained through viable economic policies that the government has devised.
Recognizing the efforts and achievements of the Ethiopian Government, the Japanese Government, through the TICAD processes, has started national support program and reiterated commitment to the accelerated continuation of its support to the country.
The diplomatic relationship which exists between Ethiopia and Japan dates back to mid 1950s. The 50 th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations was celebrated in 2005 in both countries.
The historical relationship of the two countries is consolidated as the Japanese Prime Minister made an historical visit to Ethiopia. His visit would attract more Japanese investment to Ethiopia and strengthen the bilateral cooperation of the two countries in the political, economic and social spheres.
Ethiopia remains committed to the enhancement of its relations with Japan and works for mutual benefit of the two peoples based on the principle of peaceful cooperation.