Japan will invite ministers from about a dozen African nations for a May 18 meeting in Tokyo to discuss cooperation in the area of natural resources, trade minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tuesday.
"We hope it will be an opportunity to create new ties with the African countries where (further) development of resources is anticipated," Motegi said, noting that the results will be taken up at a June summit-level international conference on African development in Yokohama.
The one-day meeting will be cochaired by Motegi and South African Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu. Japan will invite representatives from a number of countries in Africa's south, including Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
Participants are expected to discuss ways to promote private investment in the African nations, as well as cooperation on personnel training and sustainable development of resources, another trade ministry official said, noting Japan can cooperate not only in the area of exploring resources but also in preparing infrastructure for mining.