(1) Human Resources Development
The development of individuals is the base for the development of a country, and one of Japan's basic aims in providing economic assistance is to support the self-help efforts of recipient countries. As such, Japan places particular emphasis on the continuing development of human resources needed for the social and economic development of developing countries.*11
In light of the above, Japan will provide the following forms of support.
-- In order to support the self-help efforts of developing countries, Japan will promote the dispatch of experts and the acceptance of trainees.
-- Japan will give due attention to support for the educational sector, including higher education, and vocational training programs.
-- Japan will endeavor to promote the transfer of technologies and the development of human resources that conform to the national conditions and needs of recipient countries.
-- Japan will provide assistance that directly enhances the capabilities of communities and residents through the use of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and Senior Overseas Volunteers.
-- Japan will actively endeavor to develop human resources projects that will have a geographically broad effect (such as third-country training).*12
Japan will actively promote the acceptance of foreign students from developing countries and Japanese language training, both in developing countries and in Japan. Such initiatives will be pursued not only from the perspective of human resources development, but also in view of their significance in promoting mutual understanding between Japan and developing countries. Initiatives will also be pursued in terms of their strategic importance in directly benefiting Japan's intellectual and advisory contributions to the international community. Japan will provide assistance while emphasizing the following points.
-- Japan will upgrade and improve its systems for the acceptance of foreign students (including follow-up programs for foreign students returning to their home countries) in accordance with "The 100,000 Foreign Students Plan."
-- Japan will promote the exchange of personnel, including the exchange of teachers.
-- In response to the increasingly diverse needs of foreign students, Japan will endeavor to improve the quality of university education for foreign students, the scholarship system for foreign students, and direct support for foreign students.
-- Coordination will be pursued with the private sector, which plays a key role in assisting foreign students.
Active support will be provided for Japanese language training, which plays a central role in promoting a better understanding of Japanese culture in foreign countries and the acceptance of foreign students.
The importance of intellectual support is growing, not only for economies in transition, but also for developing countries undergoing economic development against the background of rapid economic globalization. Such countries are in particular need of intellectual support that corresponds to ongoing changes in their economic and social systems. Much of the experience and know-how accumulated by Japan in the process of its own economic development can prove highly effective in supporting the progress of developing countries. Of particular importance is support pertaining to the formulation of various types of systems and policies, including the development of legal frameworks. Utilizing Japanese human resources through the dispatch of policy advisers and other experts is effective for this purpose. Against a background of growing international interdependence in the areas of trade and investment, support in respect of such advisory services will play an important role in supporting global economic systems such as the WTO-based multilateral trading system.
In light of the above, Japan will provide the following forms of support.
-- Japan will emphasize support for policy and institutional development, including the development of legal frameworks, in the following areas.
-- Japan will provide intellectual support for institutional development, promoting the distribution of the benefits of economic growth to impoverished populations.
-- Support will be provided by experts, not only of the public sector but of a wide range of private sector entities, including universities and think tanks, and through the dispatch of policy advisors.
(3) Support for Democratization
Reinforcing the democratic foundations in developing countries will promote greater public participation in governance and development and the protection of human rights. As such, democratization is an extremely important factor in achieving medium- to long-term stability and development. Since the end of the Cold War, many countries have been endeavoring to introduce democratic institutions together with market principles. It is important to support these efforts and work toward the reinforcement of democracy.
Japan's support for democratization includes such activities as the acceptance of trainees, the organization of seminars, and the provision of personnel, and financial assistance for domestic elections in developing countries. *13
In light of the above, Japan will provide the following forms of support.
-- Japan will actively provide the following types of support to countries pursuing democratization and market-oriented economic reforms: support for the improvement of administrative management capabilities; support for the development of developing institutions and policies pertaining to democratization and the introduction of market principles; human resources development; participatory development; and support for public elections.
-- In view of the unique features of the fundamental transformations engendered by the political process of democratization and introduction of market principles, Japan will pay due attention to the political systems, the social and economic conditions, and the historical backgrounds of individual countries.