White Paper on Development Cooperation 2019 Japan’s International Cooperation Building a better future by connecting the world Japan’s International Cooperation International Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs White Paper on Development Cooperation 2019 Japan’s International Cooperation Building a better future by connecting the world Ministry of Foreign Affairs Foreword We have annually published the White Paper on Development Cooperation for around 40 years in order to inform not only development cooperation experts in Japan and other countries but also the people in Japan of the situation of implementation of Japan’s development cooperation policy and trends of discussions on assistance in international forums with data. Progress has been made in many issues including education and healthcare by development assistance from Japan and other developed countries. In the mid-1980s, approximately 40% of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty. However, today this figure has gone down to around 10%. Japan was the top donor from 1991 to 2000, but now it is in fourth place in the world. Due to the severe financial situation following the collapse of Japan’s bubble economy, the ODA budget has shrunk to half from the peak. With globalization, the challenges the developing countries face in their economic development and global issues such as income gaps, terrorism, refugees, infectious diseases, environment and climate change, and maritime issues such as plastic litter are becoming more diverse and complex. It is said that there is a global annual funding gap of $2.5 trillion to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015. In addressing these issues, we should utilize the capacities, funding and wisdom of various actors, including private sectors, local governments, universities and NGOs, in addition to ODA. In order to further advance “diplomacy from a panoramic perspective of the world map,” which Japan has been promoting from the position of “Proactive Contribution to Peace,” I would like to conduct “diplomacy with a sense of caring and robustness.” Rather than imposing a specific way of thinking, I would like to keep the “sense of caring” by considering, together with other countries, how to realize sustainable development while respecting the history and culture fostered by each country. I would also like to demonstrate our “robustness” to the international community by taking the lead in the maintenance and strengthening of the free and open international order. We are steadily advancing initiatives toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” by strategically utilizing ODA in the Indo-Pacific region, which has become the center of global dynamism, from the perspective that a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law is the cornerstone for stability and prosperity in the international community. To give an example of recent efforts, we now see significant increase in the container handling volume due to the development of Sihanoukville Port in Cambodia, as well as the traffic volume due to the repair of the bridge on Route 9 in the Lao PDR. These projects are appreciated as major contributions to improve east-west connectivity, which is essential for the autonomous development of the Mekong region. Development cooperation is an important tool to realize Japan’s “diplomacy with a sense of caring and robustness.” Japan has provided development assistance while thinking together and advancing together with developing countries. Every time when I hear the words of gratitude and affection for Japan’s support from various recipients, I reaffirm my belief that the strategies of Japan’s development assistance have led to the trust in Japan. In order to build a better future in the world, it is necessary to push autonomous economic growth by developing human resources to support the new age and building institutions. Japan’s development cooperation is not merely the simple provision of funding and materials. By providing advanced technologies and systems, as well as the maintenance and management knowhow possessed by Japan’s public and private sectors, we build the capability of local technicians and experts and create new employment. This strategy is the main merit of Japan’s assistance. It is based on mutual trust between Japan and developing countries, and enhances Japan’s presence in the world and benefits Japan’s economy. This year, we put a subtitle on this White Paper for the first time, which is “Building a better future by connecting the world.” Looking back on the past, Japan’s postwar recovery began with our textile industry exporting the products abroad. This was the first step of Japan’s economic reintegration into the world. Part I covers major international conferences held in 2019, such as the G20 Osaka Summit, the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7), and the SDG Summit held at the United Nations, as well as the initiatives and efforts endorsed in these conferences, including quality infrastructure, education and human resources development, and innovation. Furthermore, we opened the door to the public for ideas and opinions on this White Paper, which were duly reflected. There are special pages featuring the photographs displayed at the “Global Festa JAPAN 2019,” which many people participated in. In the new era of Reiwa, we will continue to show our leadership in development cooperation and actively address global issues, with the understanding and cooperation of the people of Japan. We will further promote Japan’s unique strategy of cooperation, which connects the countries and regions in the world to build a better future. March 2020 Minister for Foreign Affairs MOTEGI Toshimitsu Introduction: Significance of Japan’s International Cooperation The total amount of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) gross disbursements in 2018 was approximately $1,725.001 million (¥1,905.1 billion). Although there are various issues to address, such as the low birth rate, aging population, disaster recovery and disaster risk reduction, why does Japan support developing countries through ODA? Out of around 7 billion people in the world, over 700 million people are living on less than $1.90 (¥200) a day, according to the World Bank. They barely survive without enough food or drinking water, or cannot go to school even if they want to, or to the hospital when they are sick. When there are people in need, we must help each other. The same is true between countries. After World War II, Japan came back from the ruins and became a developed country. Japan received support from the United States and other developed countries as well as international organizations such as the World Bank in the course of reconstruction and economic growth. Basic infrastructures, which were essential for the reconstruction and development of Japan including the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Tomei Expressway, the Kurobe Dam, and the Aichi Canal Project, were built using such support. In return, Japan has been providing its support to developing countries by utilizing ODA. There are high expectations for Japan from various countries around the world in this regard. Global issues, such as climate change, natural disasters, environmental problems, infectious diseases and refugees, are getting more serious and their impacts are spreading all over the world. In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the international community has been promoting initiatives to build a society where “no one will be left behind” by 2030. Under this situation, helping others will eventually help you. For example, cooperating for a certain country to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or marine plastic litter will lead to improving the environment surrounding Japan. As a result of industrialization supported by Japan, octopus and salmon from developing countries are exported to Japan and served in our daily meals. However, it is also true that we are exposed to threats such as natural disasters, climate change, transnational terrorism and infectious diseases. We must cooperate with various stakeholders around the world and tackle these issues. Over 65 years have passed since Japan started to provide ODA. The support and human resources development in various fields that Japan has provided to developing countries through ODA have led to their current trust in Japan. It can be said that this trust has had a considerable role in gathering much support from various countries in Japan’s campaigns to host the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Since ODA is implemented using precious tax funds, it should be appropriately utilized and put to use for developing countries. Japan will continue to provide development cooperation to address global issues so that such effort will enhance Japan’s peace, security, and prosperity. We should be reminded that Japan achieved its economic growth by receiving support from the international community after WWII! Japan’s Development Cooperation Policy - Development Cooperation Charter - The foundation of Japan’s development cooperation policy is (1) “Quality growth” and poverty eradication through such the Development Cooperation Charter (decided by the Cabinet in growth February 2015). Japan defines its development cooperation policy Realization of economic growth is essential for reducing as being based on: adhering to the course it has taken to date as poverty, especially eradicating absolute poverty, in the world but a peace-loving nation, while contributing even more proactively it is necessary for that growth to be “quality growth” that has the to securing the peace, stability and prosperity of the international following three features: (i) “inclusiveness,” meaning that the fruits community from the perspective of “Proactive Contribution to of growth are shared within society as a whole, leaving no one Peace” based on the principle of international cooperation; and behind, (ii) “sustainability,” meaning that the growth is sustainable securing the national interests of Japan through this approach.