On March 18, 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile to strengthen bilateral relations. They discussed upcoming events such as TICAD 9 and the G20 Summit and emphasized collaboration on international issues, including North Korea and UN reform.
On March 18, 2025, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba of Japan welcomed Deputy President Paul Mashatile of the Republic of South Africa for a courtesy call. The meeting, which lasted approximately 35 minutes and began at 10:00 a.m., highlighted the importance of Japan and South Africa as partners sharing fundamental values across diverse fields.
Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized Japan’s commitment to a fruitful collaboration for the success of TICAD 9, set to take place in Yokohama, and the G20 Summit, which South Africa will host. In his remarks, Deputy President Mashatile conveyed his gratitude for the opportunity to visit Japan while expressing his intention to enhance the cooperative relationship between the two nations.
Further, Prime Minister Ishiba reaffirmed Japan’s interest in collaborating with South Africa to establish a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, grounded in the rule of law. He also addressed the necessity of cooperating on international challenges, including the response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, the abduction issue, and advocating for United Nations reform.
The courtesy call between Prime Minister Ishiba and Deputy President Mashatile reinforced the strong partnership between Japan and South Africa. Discussions focused on advancing mutual cooperation, particularly in the context of upcoming international events such as TICAD 9 and the G20 Summit. Both leaders committed to addressing pressing global challenges collaboratively, emphasizing the significance of rule-based international order.
Original Source: www.mofa.go.jp
