Japan's Katayama pledges support for developing nations at ADB board meeting

Japanese Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki has pledged cooperation with the Asian Development Bank to support developing nations in economic hardship amid the crisis in the Middle East. Katayama joined Monday's ADB board meeting in the central Asian country of Uzbekistan.

Katayama said global uncertainty is a pressing issue for the whole of the Asia-Pacific. She said Japan will work with the development bank to provide financial aid to small- and medium-sized companies to address fuel shortages and also offer investment and loans to various countries to foster energy transformation.