African countries are concerned about possible cuts in Japan's official development assistance, African Development Bank President Omar Kabbaj told Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda on July 10, according to ministry officials.

Ikeda said Tokyo will make efforts to maintain the current level as it understands the importance of ODA in Africa's development, ministry officials said. Ikeda told Kabbaj that Japan plans to host an international conference on African development next year, the officials said.