Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Yokohama, Japan
Office of the Somali President
Friday, May 31, 2013
The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud meets the Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Shinzo Abe in Yokohama ahead of the Special Conference on Somalia later today in Yokohama.
The President and his delegation arrived yesterday in order to attend the Special Conference on Somalia in Yokohama on 31 May 2013 and the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) which will take place 1st June to 3rdJune in Yokohama, Japan.
The President of Somalia thanked the Prime Minister of Japan’s leadership to host the Special Conference on Somalia and Japan’s unwavering support to the people of Somalia. Both leaders discussed bi-lateral relations between the two countries, the security and political progress in Somalia and more importantly the development of Somalia. The Prime Minister of Japan stated that Japan will continue to provide support to contribute the development, stability and prosperous of Somalia which he described is indispensable. Both leaders agreed to strengthen bi-lateral relations.
The President of Somalia highlighted the urgency of the institutional development in Somalia and said “We have made progress in Somalia, however, the challenges are enormous. Since my country is moving to recovery and development our young people urgently need vocational training in agriculture, livestock, fishing, health and education services and I would like Japan’s assistance on these areas as well as infrustructrual support such as roads, ports, airports, irrigational infrastructural and more importantly support in security.”
The President of Somalia said “Somalia is now entering into a new era which requires new approaches from the international community to help our human development which is pre-requisite to recovery and development. There is a hope to rebuild Somalia, however, we Somalis alone cannot do it.”
The President thanked H.E. Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan for the revival of the two countries bi-lateral relations after two decades and Japan’s bi-lateral development assistance to Somalia.
The President of Somalia and the Prime Minister of Japan will later today co-chair Special Conference on Somalia. The President of Somalia and his delegation will attend the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) in Yokohama on 1st June to 3rd June 2013.
