1.	The thirteenth meeting of the Overseas Economic Cooperation Council was held on January 30, 2008, from 17:20 to 17:50; Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Minister of Justice attended the meeting.
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2.	In the meeting, under the subject "the assistance for legal and judicial system development," it was agreed that Japan would designate the assistance as one of the priority fields of its overseas economic cooperation and strategically promote the assistance, which has significant meanings in consolidating the rule of law, creating a favorable environment for sustainable growth, and strengthening Japan's economic partnership with developing countries.
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3.	Japan has been providing elaborate assistance mainly in the field of basic laws. While main donors are actively implementing the assistance for legal and judicial system, it was confirmed that Japan would strategically develop the assistance by selecting priority regions, law fields, and ways of assistance; establishing a planning and implementation system in which related ministries and organizations cooperate; and strengthening the foundation of human resources contributing to the assistance.
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4.	In the meeting, the following three points were agreed as guiding principles. 1) Japan will select priority countries from East Asia (including South East Asia) and Central Asia. From Japan's foreign policy and other perspectives, it will also take into consideration the demand for nation-building in other areas such as Africa. In addition to basic laws, Japan will identify economic laws as a prioritized field and implement flexible and variegated assistance in coordination with other donors. 2) With regard to the planning and implementation system for the assistance, a Director-General level meeting composed of main ministries will be established, and the meeting will draft a basic plan in cooperation with related ministries and organizations. 3) As for utilizing and fostering of human resources involved in the assistance, Japan will strengthen human resources development by promoting mutual cooperation among judges, lawyers, and prosecutors; building an encouraging environment in which diverse human resources contribute to the assistance; cooperating with universities which are enthusiastic about the assistance.