Monrovia, Liberia – At the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), Sara Beysolow Nyanti, the minister of foreign affairs of Liberia, and Ms. Kamikama Yoko, the minister of foreign affairs of Japan, held an important bilateral encounter.
In the course of the meeting, Foreign Minister Nyanti conveyed warm greetings from President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. and the people of Liberia. She also expressed her sincere gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for hosting the TICAD Ministerial Meeting.
Foreign Minister Nyanti thanked Japan for its continued development aid to Liberia, including significant initiatives like the Japan Freeway and Japan’s dedication to repairing and extending the Gabriel Tucker Bridge to the Freeport Road corridor.
She also recognized the contributions made by Japan through the ongoing Japan Rice Monetization Program, different projects aimed at developing human capacity, and other significant bilateral aid programs supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Foreign Minister Nyanti presented Japan with a bilateral letter from the Liberian government as a symbol of continued collaboration.
This message, which Minister Kamikama received, outlines the key areas for Japan’s development assistance to Liberia in the years ahead.
The development of Japan Village and market structures, as well as the renovation and extension of the Gabriel Tucker Bridge to the Freeport Road corridor, were among these key areas.
The Bilateral Note also stressed the importance of opportunities for improving human potential, developing infrastructure, providing access to clean drinking water, and supporting solar energy for essential public institutions, especially those working to empower women and young people in Liberia.
Liberia’s resolve to collaborating closely with Japan on bilateral, multilateral, and global problems pertaining to shared values and principles was reiterated by Foreign Minister Nyanti.
Foreign Minister Kamikawa praised Foreign Minister Nyanti for her appointment to the position and thanked her for attending the TICAD Ministerial Meeting. She also highlighted Japan’s projects in Liberia as examples of the two nations’ close ties.
She reiterated Japan’s dedication to ongoing collaboration, pointing out that transportation infrastructure is especially important for Liberia’s growth.
In addition, Foreign Minister Kamikama praised the people of Liberia for upholding peace and holding three successful elections, calling the country an example of democracy in Africa.
Asserting that Japan shares common fundamental values and principles like democracy and the rule of law, Foreign Minister Kamikawa expressed Japan’s intention to support Liberia’s nation-building efforts through uniquely Japanese cooperation, such as high-quality infrastructure, Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). She also expressed her desire to further deepen Japan’s cooperation with Liberia on an international level.
The two ministers affirmed that they will collaborate to find solutions to Liberia’s development problems, particularly the creation of high-quality infrastructure. Minister Nyanti was also invited to assist Minister Kamikawa in advancing WPS throughout Africa.
Regarding TICAD 9, the two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to expanding ties between Japan and Liberia in the upcoming year.
