Japan to revise foreign aid guidelines in 2023

Tokyo, Sep 09 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Foreign Ministry decided on Friday that it will revise its guidelines on development assistance to foreign countries in the first half of 2023.

At a press conference that day, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said the ministry would use official development assistance strategically to counter China, which is growing its influence through its military and economic might. .

The Development Cooperation Charter was drafted under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2015, when outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida served as foreign minister. No revisions have been made to the guidelines since.

“We will update our development cooperation policy in a way that adapts to current times and implement it more effectively and strategically,” Hayashi said.

The ministry plans to promote development assistance in areas related to the Indo-Pacific Free and Open Initiative, economic security including stable supply chains, and global challenges such as the novel coronavirus pandemic. .

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]