Fumio Kishida said the government wanted to share risks associated with "bold" investments. "Furthermore, I would like to appoint a new minister in charge of startups."

The nationwide core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes volatile fresh food costs but includes those of energy, rose 2.2% in June from a year earlier

The move is part of BYD's international push, which has seen it open showrooms in New Zealand and Singapore as well as Norway, Brazil, Costa Rica and Colombia

Imports swelled due to a surge in oil shipments from Saudi Arabia and coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Australia

BHP has seven coal mining operations generating the mineral for use in steel production in a partnership with Japan’s Mitsubishi

Japan's aims is to send a clear signal of government backing for the project and bucks moves by West that has prohibited firms from making new investments in Russia

The Reuters Tankan showed sentiment among Japanese manufacturers and the services sector improving only modestly over the next three months

Abe was best known for his signature “Abenomics” policy that featured bold monetary easing and fiscal spending. He also bolstered defence spending after years of declines