Japanese FM in Mozambique for conference on development

The foreign ministers of Japan and some African countries are in Mozambique for a development conference that also includes delegates from the private sector and non-governmental groups.

The Portuguese news agency Lusa says Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono is attending the three-day forum that began Thursday in the capital, Maputo.

The report says issues to be discussed include extremism in Africa as well as efforts to combat Ebola outbreaks.

Japan has funded the repair and construction of bridges as well as other development projects in Mozambique.

Mozambique's national statistics institute says exports of Japanese goods and services totaled $108 million in 2016, according to Lusa. Mozambican exports to Japan were $31 million in the same year, second only to Portugal, Mozambique's former colonial ruler.