entered into. This contributed to strengthening initiatives to combat corruption in Vietnam, which is also a recipient of Japanese ODA.

Also, international training courses and seminars have been held at UNAFEI on the priority issues related to the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, such as courses and seminars on the deprivation of criminal profits and anti-money laundering between August and September, anti-corruption between October and November, and the protection of witnesses and whistle-blowers in December 2010. These courses and seminars target professionals on criminal justice of developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and contribute to the sound development of criminal justice and reinforcement of cooperative relationship in each country.

Japan invites officials in charge of the immigration control authorities of various countries, in particular Southeast Asian countries, and has held the Seminar on Immigration Control every year since 1987. Japan strengthens mutual understanding and partnership through information sharing, and improves the capacities of immigration personnel in each country. Moreover, Japan has held Seminars on Document Examination since 1995. The purpose has been to promote administrative technology transfer and information sharing among participatory countries by providing Japanese document examination skills and information about other developed countries.

As for measures against terrorism, Japan extends support to developing countries that do not necessarily have sufficient capacity for measures against terrorism to help them build their counter-terrorism capabilities. This is done from the perspective of depriving terrorists of the means to commit terrorism and any safe havens and overcoming vulnerabilities to terrorism. Japan established the Grant Aid for Cooperation on Counter-Terrorism and Security Enhancement in 2006 and has been strengthening its support for measures against terrorism in developing countries.

In particular, Japan focuses its assistance on preventing terrorism and ensuring safety and stability in the Southeast Asian region, which has close ties with Japan, and is thus important for Japan as well. Specifically, for example, Japan has been providing equipment, dispatching experts, holding seminars, and accepting trainees in the areas of immigration control, aviation security, port and maritime security, customs cooperation, export control, law enforcement cooperation, combating terrorist financing, counterterrorism conventions and protocols, and others. For example, Japan invites officials in charge of the immigration control authorities of various countries, in particular Southeast Asian countries, and has been holding the Seminar on Immigration Control every year since 1987. Japan strengthens mutual understanding and partnership through information sharing, and improves capacities of immigration personnel in each country.

In addition, in March 2010 Japan hosted a seminar with co-sponsorship by Singapore. This seminar focused on exchanges of opinions and discussion between officials from Japan and APEC member countries regarding measures and support for increasing the safety of maritime trade. Furthermore, in FY2009 Japan contributed US$67,000 to the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch and provided support for the development of counterterrorism laws in ASEAN countries centering on Indonesia.

It is also necessary to address the issue of piracy. Since Japan depends on maritime transport for a large part of its imports of oil, minerals, and other energy resources, tackling piracy on sea lanes has a direct link to the peace and security of Japan. Incidents of piracy frequently occur and are rapidly proliferating, particularly off the coast of Somalia and in the Sea of Aden, with the active region of the pirates expanding despite the efforts of the international community. This continues to pose a significant threat to the international community. Japan carries out anti-piracy activities