Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe a ¥600 million welcome to Japan in the form of an aid pledge intended to lure more Japanese companies back to the former agricultural powerhouse and counter an aggressive foray by China. But the move could also raise eyebrows in the West.
At a joint news conference in Tokyo after Monday's summit with Mugabe, Abe promised ¥600 million in financial assistance to fund a road project in the resource-rich country's north-south corridor.
He also said Japan would maintain close consultation with Zimbabwe to counter the severe food shortages there.