Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, visiting Japan from April 16, attended the Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan and the Pakistan Donors Conference in Tokyo on April 17.

At the Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan, Foreign Minister Yu expressed words of sympathy to the Pakistani government and people suffering from the fight against terrorism. He said that the Korean government will join the international community’s efforts to aid Pakistan.

In the afternoon of April 17, Foreign Minister Yu participated in the Pakistan Donors Conference, announcing the Korean government’s plan to grant a total of US$200 million in 2009-2012 in a bid to help Pakistan overcome its current economic and fiscal crises and achieve sustainable economic and social development. He said that the Korean government will concentrate its aid efforts on developing human resources, SOC (social overhead capital) and reinforcing government capabilities.

The Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan and the Pakistan Donors Conference adopted chairman’s statements that express the international community’s political and economic support for Pakistan’s efforts toward stabilization and intention to offer assistance.

The two Tokyo-hosted international meetings aimed at aiding Pakistan are seen as an occasion to both muster the international community’s efforts for the stabilization of Pakistan and to secure new momentum for the international cooperation in the stabilization of the Southwestern region including Afghanistan.