Minister Kan expressed his determination to faithfully implement the international commitments Japan had made, including the "Kan Commitment."

Japan is also working proactively in the Africa region, where delays in the progress of the MDGs have been pointed out. At the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-IV) held in 2008, The Government of Japan pledged to double its annual amount of ODA to Africa -the average amount of US$0.9 billion per year during 2003-2007- to a target of US$1.8 billion by 2012. Japan's ODA for Africa was $1.75 billion in 2008 and $1.68 billion in 2009, but in 2010 it reached $2.05 billion, achieving the monetary commitment in 2010. At the Third TICAD Ministerial Follow-up Meeting in Senegal in May 2011 as well, Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeaki Matsumoto announced Japan's determination to overcome the great earthquake and continue faithfully to implement the comprehensive pledges made at TICAD IV, receiving high praise from African countries. (See the figure on page 116 for details regarding TICAD.)

Stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan is the key to anti-terror measures, and is extremely important not only to those countries and the surrounding regions, but to the peace and stability of the international community as well. In November 2009, in an effort to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a hotbed of terrorism, Japan

A doctor examines a girl in Afghanistan (Photo: Sayad Jan Sabawoon/JICA)

determined to provide assistance up to an amount in the region of 5 billion in about five years from 2009. Since then, approximately 1.78 billion in support has been provided, on the pillars of (1) improving the ability to ensure security, (2) reintegrating former soldiers into society, and (3) development. $ ^{2} $ The support and solidarity shown by the people and government of Afghanistan after the earthquake $ ^{3} $ show that Japan's support has earned high praise not only in the international community, but locally as well, and that trust has been fostered.

In the case of Pakistan, in November 2009, Japan announced its intention to swiftly implement the pledge of assistance up to $1 billion in two years in April of that year at the Pakistan Donors Conference. Japan's aid has already exceeded $1 billion, including on energy, infrastructure, and other areas, as well as for assistance with the damage from fl ooding in 2010. (See page 96, 97 for details regarding Afghanistan and Pakistan.)

Since many Japanese companies operate in the ASEAN region, improvement of the trade and investment environment and enhancement of the connectivity in the region are important to boost the ASEAN economy as well as the Japanese economy. In addition, Japan hosted the first Mekong-Japan Summit Meeting in Tokyo in November 2009 and announced that it would strengthen efforts on the three pillars of (1) comprehensive development in the Mekong Region, (2) construction of a society that values human dignity, and (3) expansion of cooperation and exchange. Japan announced that it would provide ODA of more than 500 billion yen over the subsequent three years to address these issues, and is making continuous efforts.