[Title] Remarks by Mr. Kenji Yamada, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan at Plenary 3 of the TICAD Ministerial Meeting

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Japan has been one of the first countries to advocate the concept of human security as a principle of its foreign policy. Human security has also been the core element of TICAD, which will contribute to the achievement of Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals through building a healthy, sustainable and stable society.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to share some of Japan’s efforts with you.

First, Japan has long been the leading advocate of global health, as symbolized in Japan’s initiative to introduce global health issues for the first time at the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit in 2000. Following the Ebola outbreak in 2014, Japan took up the concept of Universal Health Coverage, or UHC, as an important pillar of the G7 Ise-Shima Summit agenda for the first time in 2016, and again at TICAD VI held in the same year. Since then, Japan has been putting strong emphasis on UHC in Africa, through health projects including the provision of policy-based program loans in Kenya and Senegal. Building on these efforts, we held the “UHC Forum 2017” in Tokyo. Japan is further determined to focus on capacity building and human resource development in the health sector in Africa, in close coordination with international organizations. We will continue our efforts to address new issues in Africa, such as sustainable health financing, including increased domestic resource mobilization, as well as the enhancement of the role played by the private sector.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Africa faces various challenges, arising from rapid urbanization, such as inefficient urban planning, deficiency of infrastructure development, job creation and city management.

Concerning environment, I would like to take up one of our leading initiatives, that is African Clean Cities Platform, or ACCP.

Japan provided a training opportunity to learn from Japanese solid waste management system, which is widely known for its inclusiveness and sustainability. We call on more African countries to join this Platform to make cities in Africa clean and healthy.

I also would like to touch upon climate change and disaster risk reduction.

As demonstrated by the Great East Japan earthquake in 2011 and the Heavy Rain Event of July 2018, Japan has advanced capacities of disaster management based upon its own experiences. Japan hosted the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction three times, and took an initiative to establish the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. Japan continues to make good use of knowledge and experience, and takes initiative to mainstream disaster risk reduction as one of the most advanced countries in this field. And in addressing the impact of climate change, we take into account the international discussion on this topic where adaptation is gaining importance.

Finally, peace and stability.

Ensuring peace and stability with the rule of law, respect for human rights and good governance is the precondition for sustainable and inclusive development.

Japan hosted the Core Group Meeting of the Eminent Persons Group on Peace and Stability in Africa in August, inviting former African presidents to discuss “African solutions to African problems” to foster peace, security and stability on the continent.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In concluding my remark, I would like to emphasize that Japan will continue to focus on human resource development and education, including the empowerment of youth and women.

Let me stress our firm resolve to implement our commitments in this regard, such as the African Business Education initiative, in short the ABE initiative.

This initiative was launched at TICAD V in 2013, and further measures were announced at TICAD VI in 2016 to extend its training program to more than 10 million people in fields such as the IT industry, automobile mechanics, as well as teachers of mathematics and science.

As this example demonstrates, Japan is determined to continue to strive for Africa’s peace and prosperity.

Thank you.