The Program of Action adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994 discusses means to solve all problems concerning the enhancement of living standards and health status of humans while seeking sustainable development of the world. The final agenda in the Program of Action is international cooperation, which is dealt with in two chapters. Chapter 14 concerns international cooperation and chapter 15 partnership with the non-governmental sector to promote it. The promotion of international cooperation must be considered in view of growing globalization of population problems.

The most notable progress in the past 30 years since the 1st Population Conference in Bucharest in 1974, in fact, is the worldwide development of international cooperation. There have been remarkable increases in assistance and cooperation by developed countries to developing countries, and in the number and scale of international cooperation organizations both in the United Nations and in the non-governmental sector. It is only unfortunate that further development of international cooperation has been seriously impeded due to recent global economic setbacks.

In spite of the stagnation of growth in international cooperation programs, three notable efforts have been made to create new cooperation systems, organizations, and schemes. First, a new cooperation system is occurring between developing countries, which is often termed as "South-to-South" cooperation. The experience of country A, which, for example, has achieved excellent results in family planning and other population areas, is transferred to country B.

Second, is cooperation by the Japan Parliamentarians Federation for Population (JPFP). This is a cooperative activity of the legislative against that of the administrative. As an example, positive action by the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) is strongly expected.

Third one is international cooperation in obtaining accurate statistical data of international migration, which can exert a greater impact on regional distribution of world population.