Japan convenes fourth African development conference

The fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) will be held from May 28 to 30 in Yokohama. Held in Japan every five years since 1993 in collaboration with organisations such as the UN and World Bank, TICAD is a policy forum focusing on development in Africa. This year's conference centres on the theme "Towards a vibrant Africa", focusing on areas such as development, security and environmental issues. Results from the conference are expected to feature in the G8 Toyako Hokkaido Summit to be held in July, at which the inaugural Hideo Noguchi Africa Prize for outstanding achievements in medical research and services will also be awarded. The third TICAD conference held in 2003 involved about 1000 people, including representatives from 23 African nations.