G8 Leaders told to keep their aid promises to the world’s poorest countries
7 Jul 2008
TOYAKO, Japan - Japan received kudos Monday from the leaders of seven African states as they met with their counterparts from the group of eight (G8) major industrialised nations in Toyako on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. But others raised doubts over the extent of commitment to Africa by Japan and the other G8 countries.
The leaders of Algeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania as well as the African Union were invited by Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fakuda to discuss their concerns with the heads of state and government of the G8 countries (Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan, Canada and the United States). Monday was the first day of the annual G8 summit.
The meeting was also attended by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and World Bank president Robert Zoellick.
The invitation to African leaders to interact with the G8 marks a significant milestone in Japan's relations with Africa that began in 1993 with the first international conference on African development, Tomohiko Taniguchi from the Japanese foreign ministry told IPS.
"It was music to Japanese ears when President Thabo Mbeki (of South Africa) said Japan's commitment to Africa should be understood thoroughly by G8 leaders," Taniguchi said.
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Source: IPS News
The meeting was also attended by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and World Bank president Robert Zoellick.
The invitation to African leaders to interact with the G8 marks a significant milestone in Japan's relations with Africa that began in 1993 with the first international conference on African development, Tomohiko Taniguchi from the Japanese foreign ministry told IPS.
"It was music to Japanese ears when President Thabo Mbeki (of South Africa) said Japan's commitment to Africa should be understood thoroughly by G8 leaders," Taniguchi said.
Read More...
Source: IPS News
