US, Japan sign strategic development alliance
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-09-29 09:13

The United States and Japan signed a strategic alliance on development, linking financial aid to poor countries to economic reform and good governance.

Japan's vice minister of foreign affairs, Mitoji Yabunaka, joined acting US Under Secretary for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs Josette Shiner for the first meeting of the new alliance, which was announced last week in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

"We had a very productive meeting together," said Yabunaka.

The United States and Japan are the world's largest donors, of about 40 of the world's development aid, Shiner said.

The US Japan Strategic development alliance agreed "empowerment of individuals and local communities, good governance, strong democratic institutions and political stability are critical foundations for sustainable development and poverty alleviation," said a US State Department statement.

"They also reinforced their strong commitment to generous humanitarian and emergency relief for any country in need," the statement said.

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