*32 The Japan-US Common Agenda

This refers to common issues identified by Japan and the United States from a global perspective for assisting the development of developing countries. The Common Agenda, launched in July 1993, provides for joint Japan-US action with regard to global-scale problems such as the environment, population, and health and medical services. Currently, various types of projects are being implemented in 18 different fields, which come under the following four major concerns: "promoting health and human development," "responding to challenges to the stability of human society," "protection of the global environment," and "the advance of science and technology." Activities in these fields are reviewed in annual plenary meetings held at the deputy-ministerial level.