To attend the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8), the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr Hayashi Yoshimasa, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr Wavel John Charles RAMKALAWAN, President of the Republic of Seychelles, on August 27 starting at around 7:20 p.m. (local time; August 28, around 3:20 a.m. JST) for roughly 25 minutes. Here is an overview of the courteous call.

1. Minister Hayashi began by praising Seychelles’ democratic and peaceful power transfer following its election two years prior. Former Prime Minister Abe received condolences from President Ramkalawan, and Minister Hayashi expressed appreciation. Minister Hayashi emphasised that Japan shares challenges with Seychelles, which has an extensive EEZ, in achieving the Free and Open Indo-Pacific, and noted that Japan plans to support Seychelles’ endeavours, particularly the countermeasures against climate change. President Ramkalawan thanked Japan for its considerable support to Seychelles while highlighting the two countries’ strong bilateral ties. They declared their intention to advance bilateral relations by the plans Japan unveiled at TICAD 8.
2. Minister Hayashi continued by stressing the need for international cooperation in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine and Japan’s continued commitment to enhancing food security in Africa. President Ramkalawan expressed his gratitude for Japan’s assistance. Minister Hayashi emphasised the value of openness and equity in development financing, and the two parties agreed to work together.
3. Additionally, the two sides agreed that they should keep collaborating to address regional and global problems like North Korea, particularly those involving missile, nuclear, and abduction crises, as well as to boost the overall operations of the UN, including the Security Council reform. Following the last NPT Review Conference, they also reaffirmed their commitment to working together to uphold and strengthen the NPT regime.