Japan And South Africa Strengthen Cooperation In The Energy Sector

Illustration - A renewable source of energy in the form of wood pellets is one of the most widely used renewable fuels in Japan. (Doc. ANTARA/Abdul Fatah)

JAKARTA - Japan's foreign minister, Yoko Kamikawa, on Friday, August 23, expressed his country's desire to strengthen cooperation with South Africa, especially in the field of electricity and energy.

When receiving a visit from the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Ronald Lamola, in Tokyo, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa revealed that South Africa is the main business center for Japanese companies on the African continent.

"It is important to maintain and develop a maritime order that is free and open based on the rule of law because both countries have areas bordering the Indo-Pacific Ocean," said Kamikawa, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, August 24.

Meanwhile, Lamola expressed his gratitude for Japan's cooperation in the decarbonization process in South Africa, including in the form of technical cooperation.

He also expressed strong hopes that Japanese companies creating many jobs will further develop their businesses in South Africa, according to a statement from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Lamola also praised the abolition of the ban on avocado exports from South Africa to Japan and said he had high hopes of encouraging high-level visits between the two countries by leveraging the Japan-South African Partnership Forum.

The two also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East, East Asia, and North Korea.

Lamola arrived in Tokyo to attend the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, which kicks off on Saturday.