Japan's ODA is implemented in accordance with the philosophy and principles, etc. provided in the ODA Charter. In this section, the main points of the ODA Charter will be explained.

1. Objectives
   The objectives of Japan's ODA are to contribute to the peace and development of the international community, and thereby to help ensure Japan's own security and prosperity. Japan, as one of the world's leading nations, is determined to make best use of ODA to take the initiative in addressing development issues.
    
2. Basic Policies

   (1) Supporting self-help efforts of developing countries
   The most important philosophy of Japan's ODA is to support the self-help efforts of developing countries based on good governance, by extending cooperation for their human resources development, institution building including development of legal systems, and economic and social infrastructure development, which constitute the basis for these countries' development.

   (2) Perspective of "human security"
   Japan will attach importance to the perspective of human security in ODA activities. It will make efforts to protect individuals and communities from threat such as conflicts, crimes, poverty and infectious diseases, and to provide assistance for empowering people so that they can deal with such threats.

   (3) Assurance of fairness
   In ODA implementation, Japan will give consideration to the condition of the socially vulnerable the gap between the rich and the poor as well as the gap among various regions in developing countries. Furthermore, full attention will be given to environmental and social impact of ODA projects. Japan will make further efforts to improve the status of women.

   (4) Utilization of Japan's experience and expertise
   Japan will utilize its own experience, advanced technologies and human resources in its ODA while taking into account the policies and assistance needs of developing countries.

   (5) Partnership and collaboration with the international community
   Japan will enhance collaboration with other players engaged in development assistance such as international organizations, other donor countries, NGOs and private sector.

3. Priority Issues
   Issues to be addressed as a priority through ODA are (1) poverty reduction, (2) sustainable growth, (3) global issues such as environmental problems, infectious diseases, population, food , energy, natural disasters, terrorism, narcotic drugs, international crime, etc.), (4) peace-building.
    
4. Priority Regions
   Asia, a region with close relationship with Japan, is a priority region. ODA will be used to forge stronger relations with this region and to rectify regional disparities.
    
5. Principle of ODA implementation
   In line with the philosophy set out above, Japan's ODA will be provided by comprehensively taking into account developing countries' needs for assistance, socio-economic conditions, and Japan's bilateral relations with the recipient country, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter (especially sovereign rights, equality and non-intervention in internal matters), as well as the following points.
   

   (1) Environment and development will be pursued in tandem.
   (2) Use of ODA for military purposes or for aggravation of conflicts will be avoided.
   (3) Full attention will be given to trends in military expenditures, development/production of weapons
      of mass destruction and missiles, export/import of arms in the recipient country and other matters
      in the recipient country.
   (4) Full attention will be given to the efforts for democratization and the introduction of market
      economy, and protection of basic human rights in the recipient country.