Prior to the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima in May, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to go to Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and Mozambique during Japan’s Golden Week vacations beginning in late April.
At a routine press briefing, the government’s top spokesperson, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, confirmed collaboration with significant African nations to address global concerns is “significant” for Japan, which holds the G-7 presidency for this year.
With the G-7 summit, which will be held in the prime minister’s home constituency, fast approaching, Kishida has expressed his willingness to strengthen ties with the “Global South,” a term that collectively refers to developing nations south of the equator.
Many developing nations, notably those in Africa, have avoided taking sides ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
On Kishida’s tour schedule for the continent, Matsuno gave no further details. Golden Week lasts until the beginning of May.