Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and World Bank President James Wolfensohn agreed Monday to take foreign aid into a new realm.
The two decided on a "comprehensive" aid approach that stresses social infrastructure in tandem with economic development in an initial program that will reach out to 10 countries.
Wolfensohn mentioned Uganda, Vietnam and Costa Rica as program participants; other nations have not been decided on.
He noted that because it is becoming clear to donor and recipient nations that economic assistance alone is insufficient, and that more importance should be placed on social aspects such as education and health and welfare.
Wolfensohn said the World Bank and Japan can promote cooperation by following up the progress made during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development held in Tokyo last month.