On April 22, at Asia-African Summit being held in Jakarta (Bandung Meeting), Prime Minister Koizumi made a key-note speech, in which he articulated the way Japan looks at its history with “deep remorse and heartfelt apology,” Japan’s effort in its development assistance to the Asian and African regions, and Japan’s determination to fulfill its multifaceted international cooperation as a peaceful nation.
[On history]
Prime Minister Koizumi stated the following:
Fifty years ago, Japan stood before the Asian and African nations assembled at Bandung to declare its determination to develop itself as a peaceful nation. That spirit of fifty years ago remains steadfast to this day. In the past, Japan , through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. Japan squarely faces these facts of history in a spirit of humility. And with feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology always engraved in mind, Japan has resolutely maintained, consistently since the end of World War II, never turning into a military power but an economic power, its principle of resolving all matters by peaceful means, without recourse to use of force. Japan once again states its resolve to contribute to the peace and prosperity of the world in the future as well, prizing the relationship of trust it enjoys with the nations of the world.
[On International Cooperation As a Peaceful Nation]
Prime Minister Koizumi highlighted three areas where Japan thinks Asian and African countries should work hand in hand together: economic development, peace-building, and promotion of international cooperation.
On Asian economic development, Prime Minister Koizumi announced his intension “to formulate concrete policies and create new partnerships in Asia ” and announced that Japan will provide “more than 2.5 billion US dollars over the next five years in assistance for disaster prevention and mitigation, and reconstruction measures in Asia, Africa and other regions.”
On the African economic development, acknowledging that this is the “Year of Africa,” the Prime Minister annouced that Japan will hold a Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) IV in 2008, and that in the three years to come Japan will double its Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa, primarily in the form of grants.
On the cooperation between Asia and Africa , Prime Minister Koizumi proposed creating an Asia-Africa Young Volunteers program, through which Asian young adults would meet, interact, and promote human resource development among the youth of Africa.
[Conclusion]
The Prime Minister concluded the statement by mentioning Ms. Wangari Maathai, Assistant Minister for the Environment of Kenya, a Nobel Peace Prize laurate, who is a leading advocate of the Japanese notion “Mottainai”(meaning “what a waste. We should cherish what we have”) and confirming Japan’s “resolute determination to spare no effort” to create “a dynamic society in which environmental consevation and development are both achieved.”
The entire text of the speech (provisional translation) can be by clicking here.
[Related Links]
* Asia-Africa Summit
* Statement by Foreign Minister Machimura at the Asia-African Ministerial Meeting
* Topics related to Japan’s wartime history
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