On January 21, 2002 (December 9, 2001 in the lunar calendar), the International Conference on Reconstruction Aid to Afghanistan opened. On January 21, 2002, according to the Associated Press, the two-day International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan opened in Tokyo, Japan on the morning of the 21st. Representatives from more than 50 countries and more than 20 international organizations attended the ministerial meeting led by the European Union, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the United States. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Afghan Interim Government Chairman Hamid Karzai will speak at the meeting before countries decide on the specific amount of assistance to provide for Afghanistan's reconstruction. Conference organizers said they hope to raise US$15 billion over the next 10 years for Afghanistan's reconstruction. The United Nations says Afghanistan will need $1.7 billion in its first year of reconstruction and could need $15 billion in aid over 10 years. However, representatives of some countries said the United Nations estimate was only a benchmark. According to reports, Germany will provide US$362 million in financial assistance for Afghanistan's reconstruction over the next four years to rebuild schools, establish an independent judicial system and restore the rights of Afghan women. According to a report by Saudi Arabia's Middle East Daily on the 20th, Karzai said that Saudi Arabia has promised to immediately provide Afghanistan with the first batch of US$20 million in aid. The European Union has said it plans to provide at least $175 million in aid to Afghanistan within this year. A U.S. official, who declined to be named, said the U.S. government will provide $290 million in aid to Afghanistan. According to a report by the BBC on the 21st, Britain has promised to donate more than 200 million pounds (about 288 million US dollars) to the International Fund for Afghanistan Reconstruction within five years. In addition, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said in Tokyo on the 21st that the Japanese government will provide US$500 million in the next two years to help Afghanistan carry out reconstruction work, with US$250 million each year. Karzai arrived in tokyo on the 20th, said he hoped the trip would be fully loaded. ICRC surveys show that currently, two thirds of adults in Afghanistan are illiterate, half of children are chronically malnourished, only about 6 per cent of households have electricity, and about 3000 people are injured by landmines every year. The UN believes that the immediate priority is to build a police force in Afghanistan, fill the treasury and get farmers back to farming. Health care, education, infrastructure development and mine clearance were also urgent tasks.