Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this week held talks with African Development Bank (AfDB) President Donald Kaberuka, in which the Japanese leader pledged continued financial support for African development projects and programmes delivered through the AfDB.

The meeting was held at the fifth Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD V) in Yokohama. Abe said TICAD and the AfDB's programmes were well aligned, as both supported programmes that resulted in 'inclusive growth'-- growth which leaves no one behind.

"The African Development Bank is the main channel of funds to African countries. Japan will continue to support projects and programmes through the Bank," Abe said.

"Japan has provided 8 years of support through a TICAD's private sector-led growth strategy. We wish to continue to enhance relations between Japan and the AfDB," he added.

Abe echoed Kaberuka's comments at the close of the African Development Bank Group's Annual Meetings in Marrakech, Morocco, last week, when he said that in a global environment, where economies appeared to be in decline, Africa would remain a strong source of growth.

Kaberuka welcomed Japan's willingness to finance development in Africa, including its support for regional integration, private sector development and fragile states. He said that Africa's growth was set to be 6.6 per cent in 2013, and further growth would follow in 2014.

Kaberuka thanked Japan for its "very generous" contribution to the AfDB's work.

The President of the AfDB also met Nobuhiko Tanaka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).The two discussed projects covering areas of common interest, including Africa's infrastructure, agriculture, the environment, human resource development, private sector development, governance and support for fragile states.