ASSISTANCE TO THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Q.

It seems that ODA is one of the most important pillars of Japan's contribution to the international community. What is Japan's basic stance regarding ODA?

A.

We believe that a peaceful and stable international community and an open global economy are indispensable for the well-being of Japan and the world as a whole. Our Official Development Assistance (ODA) is a centerpiece of our efforts to help achieve these goals.

As the international community confronts an unprecedented array of complex and difficult issues including support for democratization, conversion to a market economy, environmental protection, population problems, and support for women in developing countries, economic cooperation is going ever more important. However, less capacity of industrialized countries to provide development assistance causes a widening gap between the supply and the demand of the assistance.

Under these circumstances, We have been steadily implementing the development assistance outlined by the 5th Mid-term ODA Target in which we are committed to expense US$ 70 to 75 billion over the five years from 1993 through 1997. We have been doing so, observing the Official Development Assistance Charter which was adopted in 1992. Since 1991, Japan has been the world's top contributor of total ODA funds.

Efforts of ours are highly appreciated by the international community including the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD).