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President Robert Mugabe greets Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo at the Royal park Hotel in Sendai, Japan, yesterday before their meeting. Pictures by Joseph Nyadzayo, Presidential Photographer

Nduduzo Tshuma in Japan
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday met Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and discussed, among other things, the strengthening of bilateral relations and ties with the rest of Africa.

During the meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, Shinzo pledged $2,5 million to the country for disaster risk preparation and management.

The Japanese Prime Minister appealed for President Mugabe’s support in his capacity as African Union chairperson in ensuring smooth preparations for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) to be held in Africa for the first time in 2016.

Gambia and Kenya have both expressed interest in hosting the event.

Shinzo also appealed to President Mugabe for Africa’s support in Japan’s bid for a position in the United Nations Security Council.

The President, in response, said the decision to support Japan would have to be made by the continental body and not Zimbabwe alone.

He advised Shinzo to attend the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference in Indonesia next month to rally support.

Before the closed door meeting, Shinzo said he hoped that President Mugabe has had first-hand experience in observing the reconstruction efforts that have been taking place in Tohuku region that was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake four years ago.

“And also on this occasion, I would like to congratulate you on the assumption of the chairmanship of the African Union, with you I would like to further develop and strengthen the partnership and relationship between Japan and Africa,” said Shinzo.

President Mugabe, who was joined by other world leaders at the conference, said he was in Japan to discuss strategies around disaster risk reduction.

Health Minister David Parirenyatwa, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Local Government and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo are travelling with the President.

On Saturday, President Mugabe met Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) President Professor Akehiko Tanaka to, among other issues, discuss technical cooperation in the area of using tourism as a poverty reduction tool.