developing countries' self-help efforts based on their good governance. At the 1996 Lyon Summit of the Group of Seven, Japan announced the Partnership for Democratic Development (PDD) initiative to demonstrate its policy to enhance efforts in developing legal, judicial, electoral and other systems, training judicial, administrative and police officials, assisting democratic elections, enhancing communities and improving the status of women in developing countries under the three principles of bilateral partnership, ownership of the recipient country, and consultations and agreement between the recipient country and Japan. Based on the PDD initiative, Japan has developed a domestic setup for assistance through cooperation between relevant government agencies and other organizations in order to respond appropriately to various assistance requests reflecting the development stage of democratization and market-oriented economic reforms of each developing country. At the same time, Japan has implemented various types of assistance, including acceptance of trainees, dispatch of experts, development studies, construction of facilities, provision of equipment and support for relevant non-government organizations.

For Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and new independent states like Uzbekistan that are required to develop legal systems for market-oriented economic reforms and external trade and investment liberalization, Japan in fiscal year 2003 implemented assistance in legal system development, including drafting, amendment and enactment of civil codes, commercial codes, civil procedure codes, bankruptcy acts and other laws, as well as training of legal professionals. In drafting and amending laws, Japanese experts dispatched to these countries have been making strenuous efforts to develop laws reflecting local practices. Some specific achievements have been accomplished. For Vietnam, particularly, Japan has assisted in drafting a civil procedure code and a bankruptcy act. The two laws were enacted at Vietnam's Parliament in May 2004. In supporting

An expert transfers air rescue skills to the Philippine coast guard.

(Photo: Japan Coast Guard)

training of legal professionals who draft and enforce laws, Japan has conveyed its legal education know-how to schools for judicial officers in Vietnam and Cambodia.

In assisting in fostering capacity of police agencies in developing countries, Japan has given priority to personnel development for the creation of institutions and the improvement of administrative capacity. In this respect, Japan has provided organic assistance including the development of relevant facilities and the provision of equipment. Indonesia separated police from its military forces and has been democratizing the police organization as auxiliary police. Japan has dispatched an expert as "JICA Advisor for Chief of INP." In August 2002, Japan launched the "Project on Enhancement of Civilian Police Activities," covering such areas as organizational management, communications and command, and on-site identification. In order to support restoration of Bali whose image as an international resort was affected seriously by a terrorist bomb attack in 2002, Japan sent advisers to Bali Police Chief in October 2003 to give senior police officers comprehensive advice on police administration. In the Philippines, the coast guard became independent from the navy in 1998. In a bid to support the move toward democratization, Japan has sent maritime safety administration experts to the Philippines to give policy advice. In July 2002, Japan also kicked off the "Project on Philippine Coast Guard Human Resource Development" to provide technical assistance including training and education of coast guard personnel and development of training and education programs in the Philippines.

Since governance is important for medium- or long-term stability and sustainability of development in Asia, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations University under Japan's assistance cosponsored a workshop on democratic governance in Asia in March 2004. Lawmakers, non-government organizations representatives and government officials from Japan, ASEAN countries, India, China, Republic of Korea (ROK) and Mongolia participated in the workshop to actively exchange views on governance-enhancing efforts and problems at various levels.

## (3) Human Resource Development

"Nation-building begins with human resources development." Assistance in human resources development is a key part of Japan's overseas aid. Assistance in human resources development can play a key role in training personnel contributing directly to nation-building as the base for sustainable growth, in promoting mutual understanding through human exchanges, and developing bilateral relations between Japan and the world.