Tokyo  - Development ministers from the Group of Eight (G8) nations on Sunday in Tokyo reaffirmed their commitment to boost development assistance through partnership with emerging nations.

The ministers agreed to fulfill their commitments on Overseas Development Aid made at Gleneagles, especially to double aid for African nations by 2010, they said in a statement.

A report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development released Friday showed total development aid among the world's 22 major aid donors fell 8.4 per cent in real terms in 2007.

Japan, which was ranked fifth, the lowest since 1972, pledged to reverse the downward trend of its foreign aid. The country's contributions shrank by about 30 per cent in
2007.

The ministers also agreed to strengthen their efforts to halve the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015 while helping developing nations to become self-reliant.

The two-day meeting involved ministers from the G8 member states as well as the European Commission, China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.

The full G8 meeting is scheduled for July 7-9 on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. (dpa)