The Foreign Ministry will carry out an organizational overhaul next
Wednesday to strengthen its ability to distribute information about the country
abroad, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said Friday.

The ministry will integrate the department that handles news and information
supplied to the media with another in charge of activities to disseminate
information about Japanese culture to other countries and regions, Gemba said
at a press conference.

Separately, the ministry will set up the Second China and Mongolia Division
under the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau. The division will mainly take
charge of economic issues related to China, the economy of which is rapidly
growing.

In addition, the existing office for African issues under the Middle Eastern
and African Affairs Bureau will be upgraded to a department as Japan is aiming
to strengthen its relations with African countries.

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