TICAD ministerial meeting starts in Tokyo

A two-day ministerial meeting for the International Conference on African Development, or TICAD, has opened in Tokyo, with delegates from 47 African nations taking part. Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, who is the chairperson of the meeting, has asked participants to hold talks on the future of the continent as a growth center of the world.

Kamikawa called for discussions based on the results they have achieved. The participants then held sessions on public health, climate change, conflict resolution and other topics. Japan announced a plan to support training programs for women who will engage in peace building in a peninsula in East Africa, known as the Horn of Africa, based on the concept of "Women, Peace and Security."