Japan, World Bank agree on anti-disaster project

Japan and the World Bank have agreed to jointly study ways to help developing countries prepare for a major disaster.

The agreement came in a meeting between Japanese finance minister Jun Azumi and World Bank President Robert Zoellick on Friday.

The 2 officials said they will look into holding a World Bank meeting on anti-disaster measures next year in the Japanese city of Sendai that was hit by the earthquake and tsunami in March.

They agreed that the 2-year joint study will begin next month.

Japan's experience in dealing with disasters and its knowledge of quake-resistant high-rise buildings and effective levees will be utilized in the project.

Later, Azumi told a symposium on relief activities that people in disaster-stricken areas in northeastern Japan are working hard to restart their lives.

He said Japan is ready to offer support to other countries hit by disaster in the same way it received help from abroad since the March 11th disaster.