By Xinhua,
Yokohama (Japan) : Leaders from some 40 African countries Wednesday started their three-day discussions here on a sustained growth and long-term development for the African continent.
The Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) will focus on boosting economic growth, ensuring human security and addressing environment and climate change issues in Africa.
“What we are about to do now is to open a new stage, called the “century of African growth”, said Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in his opening speech at the meeting Wednesday.
Fukuda said Africa would become a powerful engine, “driving the growth of the world”.
Under the theme of “Toward a Vibrant Africa: A Continent of Hope and Opportunity”, the conference is co-organised by Japan, the UN and the World Bank.
The participants at the meeting are expected to come out with a road-map for action-oriented initiatives with measurable targets.