The Tokyo conference was the third annual conference of the ADB OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific. The Initiative was launched in 1999 at a workshop for countries of the Asia and Pacific region held in Manila under the auspices of the ADB and OECD and attended by 250 participants from over 35 ADB and OECD countries and economies (Manila, October 1999), and formally endorsed in December 2000 at the second annual conference in Seoul, Korea. Its objective is to put in place the framework conditions for effectively combating corruption by identifying appropriate political, institutional, and other reforms necessary for the various participating countries.

The aim of the third annual conference in Tokyo was: (i) to further strengthen the exchange of experience among governments, business and civil society organisations active in the fight against corruption in participating countries and to evaluate progress and problems; (ii) to foster regional co-operation through the adoption of a regional Anti-Corruption Action Plan; (iii) to increase knowledge of specific problems related to corruption and to develop effective counter-measures; and (vi) to promote co-ordination of international technical assistance in the field of anti-bribery and good governance. These four elements will set the background for discussions that will take place at the Tokyo conference.