For years, the world has looked to Asia as a leader in many areas, particularly business and technology. Now Asia is serving as an important example to follow in the international race to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Economic growth in the region has raised annual per capita incomes by 75 percent since 1990 and lifted hundreds of millions of people out of extreme poverty. While the various approaches differed, one common lesson is clear: Asian countries that saw the most growth were those that made significant investments in agriculture and rural development.
As the region's leading economy and largest source of aid, Japan has been a pivotal partner in Asia's "miracle" transformation. For more than 50 years, Japan has been delivering development assistance throughout Asia and successfully linking it to trade and investment. Today, Japan is the second-largest source of aid in the world and one of the most active bilateral donors.