Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya concluded an official visit to Dakar on Tuesday, April 29th, marking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Senegal.
Key discussions with Senegalese authorities centered on an invitation to the upcoming TICAD 9 summit, support for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), and the strengthening of economic cooperation between the two nations.
According to a statement released by the Senegalese presidency to APA, Minister Iwaya was received by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye at the Presidential Palace. During the meeting, the Japanese minister conveyed an official invitation from the Japanese Prime Minister for President Faye to participate in the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), scheduled to be held in Yokohama next August. The two leaders engaged in discussions aimed at further strengthening the existing bilateral cooperation between their respective countries.
Information provided by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs detailed a bilateral meeting held earlier in the day between Minister Iwaya and Senegal’s Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, Ms. Yassine Fall. This hour-long meeting was followed by a luncheon hosted by Minister Fall. During these engagements, Minister Iwaya expressed his satisfaction in visiting Senegal during this significant anniversary year and conveyed Japan’s strong desire to further enhance bilateral relations through various initiatives. These include fostering stronger economic ties with Senegal as a stable partner in West Africa, promoting close cooperation for the success of TICAD 9, and actively supporting the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Minister Fall, on behalf of Senegal, expressed her gratitude to Japan for its long-standing and consistent support across diverse sectors, particularly in the crucial area of human resource development. She also articulated Senegal’s keen interest in deepening bilateral relations in the vital economic and technological sectors, as well as working collaboratively to achieve African priorities within the framework of TICAD.
Minister Iwaya reiterated the significant role of the Senegal-Japan Vocational and Technical Training Center (CFPT-SJ), which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024, in contributing to Senegal’s “Senegal 2050” vision and broader industrial development within the West African sub-region. Both ministers affirmed their mutual intention to strengthen cooperation in the key fields of education, agriculture, and mine clearance efforts.
Highlighting the growing presence of Japanese companies in Senegal, Minister Iwaya expressed optimism that both TICAD 9 and the upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka would serve as catalysts to further boost trade and investment between the two nations. He called for continued improvements in Senegal’s business environment, particularly in enhancing transparency and the stability of economic policies, and extended an invitation for Senegal to participate in GREEN×EXPO 2027 in Yokohama.
Discussions also encompassed various international issues of mutual concern, including the evolving situation in the Sahel region, developments in East Asia (with a specific focus on North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs), and the ongoing reform efforts of the United Nations Security Council. Both Japan and Senegal affirmed their view of each other as “strategically important partners sharing fundamental values such as democracy and the rule of law,” underscoring the depth and breadth of their relationship.
AC/Sf/fss/abj/APA