Japan hopes to boost ties with African countries so it can secure supplies of much-needed rare metals and energy resources, amid heated competition with China and other emerging economies, trade minister Akira Amari said.
Amari, 58, who was reappointed minister of economy, trade and industry in the Aug. 27 Cabinet reshuffle, said he hopes to visit South Africa and Madagascar by the end of the year.
"As Japan has few resources, we need to secure stable supplies" by strengthening diplomatic ties with resource-rich countries, Amari said in a recent interview.