"given that you are dealing here with the second largest economy in the world [Japan], the decisions that have been arrived at, as provided for in the Programme of Action, are very important and very relevant to what the African continent is trying to do," said Mr Mbeki.

The conference was held under the theme: "Towards a vibrant Africa: A continent of hope and opportunity", and addressed three main issues namely boosting economic growth, ensuring human security and addressing environmental issues.

The President, followed by a large ministerial delegation, participated in the conference within the framework of pursuing the African agenda said the Department of foreign Affairs (DFA).

"I think that the Yokohama Programme of Action that has been agreed at ministerial level, which will get formally adopted at the end of the Summit, in fact covers all the major issues of concern to the African continent.

whether you are talking issues of infrastructure, or agricultural development, or education, or health, issues of international trade, these issues that are very problematic at the World Trade Organisation (WTO)it covers all of those things, and I think it is an important Programme of Action.

"The second important point is that for the first time there has been an agreement to put in place a monitoring mechanism, jointly Japan and the African Union [AU] and New Partnership for Africa's Development [NEPAD] in particular, to look at what is practically being done to implement these agreements," said the President.

It was very important, he said, to have a follow-up mechanism to ensure that good decisions are actually implanted.

The opening of TICAD 4 by Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was an indication of Japan's commitment to developmental challenges facing the country he said.

" the commitments that Japan has made are backed up with practical concrete resources, I think TICAD 4 has gone very well," said President Mbeki.

With regard to the global phenomenon of rising food prices, he said a number of organisations including the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Food and Agricultural Organisation committed resources to deal with the issue.

"We need to encourage the other G8 members to follow this example, so that indeed we don't need any new NEPAD Programmes, what we need is practical action on the part of G8 to respond to the commitments they have made," he concluded.


By Michael Appel
from buanews.gov.za