TOKYO: Japan announced Friday it would contribute a fresh 50 million dollars in aid to developing countries over the next three months to help them cope with soaring food prices.

Japan made the announcement three days before it hosts the Group of Eight summit of top industrial powers' leaders, where the food crisis is set to be high on the agenda.

Japan, which has earlier pledged 200 million dollars in aid, will send 50 million dollars in new assistance by October "as the situation remains serious, particularly in developing countries," a foreign ministry statement said.