Addis Ababa, Aug.27(ENA)--Japan and Ethiopia would closely work towards the scrupulous implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the Tokyo International Conference on Africa's Development (TICAD), the Japanese Foreign Minister said.

Yoriko Kawaguchi,who concluded her two-day official visit to Ethiopia, told journalists up on departure on Tuesday that apart from consolidating their bilateral cooperation, the two friendly countries had agreed to jointly work on regional issues.

The existing amicable bilateral cooperation that exist between Japan and Ethiopia would enable to further explore the potential of cooperation at the regional level, Kawaguchi said.

Early on Tuesday Kawaguchi had visited the Cheshire Services-Ethiopia, a non- governmental organization engaged in providing care and support for children disabled by poliomyelitis.

The Foreign Minister said on the occasion that she was very much impressed by the smile of the children at the service and expressed hope that their future would be as much bright as their smiles.

Kawaguchi has visited the various wards built by the support of different donor countries, including the Recovery Ward called 'Ayumi House', which was built in 1999 with grant assistance from the Japanese Government.

The Foreign Minister has commended the activities of the Cheshire Services.

Ethiopia and Japan started diplomatic relations in the early 1930s and established Embassies in each other's country in 1958.

For Japan, Ethiopia is the 8th largest trade partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the volume of trade from Ethiopia to Japan amounted to 53.3 million US Dollars in the year 2000.

With regard to economic cooperation, Ethiopia was the third largest recipient of Japanese development assistance in Sub-Saharan Africa in the year 2000.

Upon departure from the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Kawaguchi was seen off by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tekeda Alemu and other senior government officials and resident dignitaries.

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