Japan decided to donate more than US$300 million of the Grant Aid for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding through the UNDP to the training program of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center in Ghana in February 2008, reinforcing assistance to Africa where SALW problems were particularly serious.

Additionally, as for measures against SALW, Japan also provides assistance for developing legal structures and capacity building of law enforcement organizations, which secures the effectiveness of regulations on the detection and prevention of the illegal inflow of weapons; implements projects for disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants and child soldiers; and conducts seminars held by SALW specialists. In FY2007, Japan extended assistance for dismissed soldiers with disabilities in Rwanda, which had experienced civil wars for many years, with a project to facilitate their economic and social independence as well as reintegration to a community through the acquisition of skills, and to strengthen skill training centers. $ ^{70} $ Japan’s contribution to efforts to tackle SALW totaled approximately ¥41.1 billion by the end of 2007.

### Section 3. Assistance for Each Region

The ODA Charter designates Asia as a priority region since it has a close relationship to Japan and can have a major impact on Japan’s national stability and prosperity. At the same time, Japan also advances effective and efficient cooperation to other areas by selecting and concentrating the assistance based upon the objectives, basic policies, and priority issues of the ODA Charter. The status of Japan’s assistance in each region is outlined below.

### 1. East Asia

Japan’s bilateral ODA to East Asia in 2007 was approximately US$1,113.36 million, 19.1% of total bilateral ODA.

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East Asian countries have a close relationship with Japan in all aspects including politics, economy, and culture. As such, the development and stability of the East Asia region has great significance for the safety and prosperity of Japan itself. Japan has supported infrastructure development and human resource development in the region through ODA, and facilitated private sector investment and trade through means such as enhancing economic partnerships. Through these measures Japan has thus far contributed to the remarkable economic development in the East Asia region by advancing economic cooperation that coordinates ODA with investment and trade. For providing assistance, Asia is continuously designated as a priority region.

East Asia has attained rapid economic growth, and some countries, such as the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Singapore, have already been transformed from aid recipients into donors. On the other hand, there are still some least developed countries (LDCs) within East Asia, such as Cambodia and Laos. There are also countries like China, which still has internal disparities even though its economy has grown dramatically in recent years, or Viet Nam, which is in the process of transitioning from a centrally-planned economy to a market economy. In extending assistance, Japan fully takes into account such diversity in socio-economic conditions and changes in the respective assistance needs in each country.

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Japan’s assistance activities in the East Asia region are aimed at advancing interregional cooperation and integration in line with shared basic values, promoting mutual understanding, and ensuring stability. To meet these objectives, cooperation is needed in establishing a stable process of democratization; reinforcing protection of human rights; building legal institutions; and developing infrastructure in order to promote economic growth. Also, various types of functional cooperation in fields such as finance, energy,

(Source: AFP=Jiji)