The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan held a high-level meeting with the Deans of the African Diplomatic Corps on Friday,29Th March 2025, at the New Otani Hotel in Tokyo. The session focused on strengthening Africa–Japan relations through deeper cooperation in education, technology, and sustainable development. The meeting brought together senior African diplomats, led by H.E. Mr. Pierre Ndzengue, Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps. In his remarks, Ambassador Ndzengue expressed appreciation to the Government of Japan for its continued support to Africa across sectors such as digital transformation, infrastructure, and human capital development. The Ambassadors emphasized Japan’s unique role in Africa’s development journey, particularly in areas such as technical assistance, AI-driven innovation, and capacity building. They encouraged Japan to expand its role in supporting Africa’s digital economy, leveraging Japan’s expertise in technology transfer and knowledge-sharing. The Chair of the ECOWAS Diplomatic Group, H.E. Mrs. Genevieve Edna Apaloo, Ambassador of Ghana, also delivered a strong intervention highlighting the importance of education and private sector engagement. She advocated for increased MEXT and JICA scholarships, the creation of innovation hubs across West Africa, and stronger Japanese SME investment under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). In response, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan welcomed the unity of vision expressed by the African diplomatic community. He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to advancing partnerships in education, innovation, and business investment, stating, “Africa’s young and dynamic population presents shared opportunities for growth. Japan stands ready to work hand-in-hand with our African partners to co-create solutions that benefit both our regions.” The meeting also touched on upcoming diplomatic engagements, including the Africa Day celebration in Tokyo, with a formal invitation extended to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. African Ambassadors expressed their eagerness to welcome his participation and deepen people-to-people ties. The session concluded with a shared commitment to co-create a future of mutual growth between Africa and Japan. Both sides agreed to maintain close dialogue and continue identifying concrete opportunities for collaboration across education, trade, innovation, and governance.