On Thursday, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida indicated a desire for greater ties with Africa as part of his attempts to win over the “Global South” ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) conference he will host at the end of the month.
Kishida said that Japan would act as a bridge between the G7 and impoverished countries and that he hopes the G7 can provide tangible forms of partnership in the energy and food security sectors.
High food and energy prices are wreaking havoc on numerous countries in the Global South. Kishida blamed the country’s present situation on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at a press conference in Maputo, Mozambique’s capital. The press conference was shown live on Japanese television by NHK.
However, Kishida said, “There are attempts to divide the world, through the projection of inaccurate impressions that this is caused by the G7’s sanctions on Russia.” He didn’t say who was trying to do so.
Kishida will host a G7 summit in his home district of Hiroshima from May 19-21, in response to Russia’s crisis in Ukraine and regional worries about China and Taiwan.
Kishida’s journey began on Sunday and brought him via Egypt, Ghana, and Kenya before concluding in Singapore on Friday.
