[World Bank] chief discusses development, anti-poverty issues with Japanese officials

from Mainichi Daily News

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz on Monday met with Japan's foreign minister during his four-day visit in Japan to discuss development and anti-poverty issues with Japanese officials, a spokeswoman for the bank said.

In a statement issued on his arrival Saturday, Wolfowitz said that anti-poverty efforts for Africa would be a key agenda item during his visit, citing Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's trip to Africa earlier this month.

Wolfowitz said he looked forward to discussing with Japanese aid officials how they could work together to support the efforts of African countries through encouraging investment and growth in the continent.

Monday morning, Wolfowitz met with Foreign Minister Taro Aso, bank spokeswoman Tomoko Hirai said. She declined to provide details of the conversation.

Wolfowitz also addressed the Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics, co-organized by the World Bank and Japan's Ministry of Finance to discuss infrastructure and development, she said.

Also speaking at the conference, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki announced Japan's plans to contribute up to US$2 million toward a World Bank initiative to support development research on agriculture and climate change.

Wolfowitz was scheduled to meet Tanigaki later Monday on the conference's sidelines, Hirai said.

In July 2005, Koizumi reversed Japan's policy of slashing foreign aid to pledge new assistance to Africa, saying Japan would boost overseas aid by US$10 billion over the next five years.

During the Japan leg of his May 27-31 Asia tour, Wolfowitz will also meet with Koizumi as well as business representatives and non-governmental group leaders, the bank said in a statement.

Japan is the World Bank's second-largest shareholder.

Wolfowitz's next stop is South Korea.