### 1. East Asia

Bilateral ODA for East Asia in 2008

●Approximately US$29.18 million (approximately US$4,518.81 million) (Note 38)

●Approximately 0.4% of total bilateral aid (approximately 30.3%)

East Asia consists of a variety of nations. Some, such as the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Singapore, have attained rapid economic growth and have already shifted from aid recipients to 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 such as China, which still has internal disparities even though its economy as a whole 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. These countries have close relationships with Japan in all aspects including political, economical, and cultural, and the development and stability of this region has great significance for

##

Japan has contributed to the remarkable economic growth in East Asia by combining ODA with trade and investments to provide infrastructure development, assistance for systems and human resource development, promote trade, and vitalize private investments. Currently, Japan aims to further enhance open regional cooperation and integration based on sharing basic values while also ensuring regional stability by promoting mutual understanding. For that reason, Japan has made efforts to respond to transnational problems such as terrorism and piracy, natural disasters, environment and climate change, and infectious diseases, in addition to working for the promotion of mutual understanding through large-scale youth exchanges, cultural exchanges, as well as Japanese language education and Japanese-style education.

In order to position Asia as a center of growth open

## ☑ Support for Southeast-Asia

Since April 2007, Japan has been implementing the Japan-Mekong Region Partnership Program, which rests upon the following three priority areas: (1) Integrate Economies of the Region and Beyond, (2) Expanding Trade and Investment between Japan and the Region, and (3) Pursue Universal Values and Common Goals of the Region. Under this program, Japan has been expanding its assistance to each CLV country (Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam) as well as to the peace and prosperity of Japan.

In November 2009, which was the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009, the first Mekong-Japan Summit Meeting between the Heads of Governments of Japan and the Mekong region countries was held in Tokyo. Prime Minister Hatoyama declared that Japan commits more than ¥500 billion of ODA in the next 3 years for the Mekong region to flourish further more.

For Japan’s efforts in the Mekong region, see also Part I, Chapter 1, Section 1.

In extending assistance, Japan fully takes into account such diversity in socio-economic conditions and changes in the respective assistance needs in East Asian countries.

to the world and to respond to the current financial and economic crisis, it is important to secure economic prosperity for Japan as well as other countries in the region. Japan thus provides assistance to enhance growth potential and to expand domestic demand in Asia. Moreover, in April 2009, Japan released the Growth Initiative towards Doubling the Size of Asia's Economy. Thereupon, Japan announced that it would provide a maximum of two trillion yen in ODA. Through this undertaking, Japan provides assistance in sectors and for people that are easily impacted by the crisis, such as by supplying flexible funds for expanding domestic demand and for developing a safety net, while also providing assistance for developing infrastructure, constructing low-carbon societies, and promoting human resource development and exchanges.

region as a whole. Japan also contributed nearly US$52 million to the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) to promote a comprehensive economic partnership between Japan and ASEAN, of which approximately US$20 million would be to assist the “Development Triangle,” parts of which is the area consisting of the three CLV nations. Furthermore, at the Japan-Mekong Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held in January 2008 in Tokyo, approximately US$20 million was