Honourable Members of the AU Parliamentary Association
Friends of Africa
Ladies and gentlemen
It is an honour and a privilege to be able to speak to you this evening, after a very fruitful and engaging day in the exciting city of Tokyo.
It is even more special tonight when you know that you are among friends of our Continent - people who have a keen interest in our destiny as Africans and who understand the challenges on our road to the future.
We are, therefore, very grateful for the continuous political support that Africa is receiving from Japan via this Association.
Dear friends
The momentous changes South Africa underwent in 1994, created a democratic political dispensation and platforms for us to tackle the hard work of fundamentally transforming our society and economy.
After 20 years of democracy, during which we began erasing the legacy of over 300 years of colonialism and apartheid, we laid a firm foundation for a thriving constitutional democracy under the rule of law.
In South Africa, however, we are always seized with the notion that we do not live in isolation. We are part of a region, a Continent and a world that is inter-dependent – a global village.
Our own prosperity and well-being, therefore, is intrinsically linked to those around us.
In our part of the world, we call this notion the spirit of “Ubuntu”, which roughly means “I AM, because we ARE”.
In this regard, over the past 20 years, we have sought to strengthen our continental organisations, notably the Southern African Development Community and the African Union.
These are our vehicles for the regeneration of Africa - to build a Continent that is free of conflicts and under-development.
Self-reliance and finding African solutions to African problems were our inspiration as we advanced the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
This also applied when we established an African security architecture that is able to respond rapidly, and timeously, to crises, including unconstitutional changes of government.
South Africa’s vision is to realise a prosperous and a stable Africa without conflict and poverty.
South Africa’s destiny is inextricably linked to that of the rest of African, a potential market of over one billion people.
As you may be aware, at the recent African Union Summit in South Africa in June this year, leaders of the Continent launched negotiations on a Continental Free Trade Agreement. Once established, this free trade area will offer a market to countries such as Japan of nearly limitless opportunities!
Regional and continental integration is the foundation for Africa’s socio-economic development and political unity, and essential also for South Africa’s prosperity and security.
Consequently, Africa is at the centre of South Africa’s foreign policy. South Africa cannot succeed alone, but only as part of a broader African success story, even though we would like to see ourselves as the gateway to doing business in Africa.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Five in June 2013, Prime Minister Abe announced Japan’s basic policy assistance to Africa, along with an assistance package of about R320 billion in public-private initiatives, including R140 billion in Overseas Development Assistance (ODA).
South Africa wishes to underscore that the TICAD process, initiated by Japan in 1993, was the first foreign initiative to interact with the African continent.
We also welcome the fact that a decision was taken at TICAD V in 2013, that the next TICAD Summit would be held on African soil.
The venue for this Summit is currently under consideration by the African Union Commission, and South Africa will be guided by AU processes.
Prime Minister Abe, in his keynote address to the African Union Commission in January 2014, appealed to Africa to choose Japan as its true partner. He explained that what was necessary for Africa was Japanese assistance and the organisational culture of Japanese companies.
South Africa can verify that the bonds of solidarity we have established with Japan over a period of time, confirm the sincerity and goodwill of Japan as a “Proactive Contributor to Peace” in the African continent in promoting peace and sustainable development.
It is our hope and conviction that Japan, as an important member of the world community of nations, sees itself as our partner in the practical promotion of the vision of Africa’s resurgence and development.
We trust that Japan will continue to place herself among the front ranks of those who are driven to act not only within the context of a narrowly defined national interest, but with broader generosity of spirit.
This spirit recognises the fact that one’s own humanity is enriched by identifying oneself especially with others who are in need.
Long may this spirit prevail.
Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you.
