Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting with Mr. Alpha Oumar Konare, the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), at the Prime Minister’s Residential Quarters.

Afterwards, Prime Minister Koizumi held a press conference together with Chairperson Konare. Prime Minister Koizumi indicated his desire to establish the Hideyo Noguchi Prize for Africa and to make it an award that is comparable to the Nobel Prize and contributes to the practice and study of medicine well into the future. He also indicated his intention to further develop the friendly relations between Japan and Africa.

Chairperson Konare expressed his belief that the establishment of the award would be a symbol of Japan’s dedicated efforts toward Africa. He also indicated that the AU and the countries of Africa support Japan’s bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

Source : OPM, Tokyo, July 27, 2006