South Africa, Japan ministers meet on minerals, energy ties

South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola met Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Pretoria on Tuesday (May 5) for bilateral talks focused on multilateral cooperation, supply chains, critical minerals and energy. Motegi arrived with his entourage before greeting Lamola and posing for photographs ahead of the meeting.

Lamola said the discussions were taking place at a time of growing global uncertainty, with peace and security under strain and the United Nations Security Council facing difficulties in resolving international disputes. He said South Africa hoped its engagement with Japan would strengthen the work of the United Nations and support Pretoria's role as a founding member of the G20.

Motegi said cooperation between Japan and South Africa was progressing steadily in areas including critical minerals and energy, and that Tokyo wanted to deepen ties further across a broad range of sectors, including efforts to build resilient supply chains. The meeting was expected to be followed by joint remarks and a press briefing at the Japanese embassy.

-Thando Hlophe/Reuters