Luanda: The Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Angolan Communities, Domingos Cust³dio Vieira Lopes, met with the Japan ambassador to Angola, Hiroaki Sano, in Luanda on Tuesday. The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations between Angola and Japan.
According to Angola Press News Agency, discussions during the meeting included plans to intensify high-level visits and exchanges in anticipation of the 9th edition of the Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD 9), scheduled for 2026. Preparatory actions for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Angola and Japan, which will also be celebrated in 2026, were initiated.
The Tokyo International Conference on Africa's Development, launched in 1993 by the Government of Japan, serves as a multilateral platform promoting sustainable development in Africa through cooperation, co-ownership, and international partnership. Over more than three decades, TICAD has become a key forum for dialogue between Africa and its development partners, focusing on peace, governance, regional integration, and economic growth.
The conference is co-organized by international entities such as the United Nations, the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank, and the African Union Commission, with participation from the private sector, civil society, and academic institutions. Hosted alternately in Japan and African countries, TICAD concludes with the adoption of a political statement and an action plan that sets priorities for Africa-Japan dialogue.
Past editions of TICAD have addressed topics like industrialization, education, health, food security, infrastructure, climate change, and digital transformation.
