Japan on Thursday threw its weight behind US efforts to ensure next month’s G20 summit focuses on the need for immediate co-ordinated action to support the world economy rather than long-term efforts to improve financial sector regulation.

In an interview with the Financial Times that highlighted the growing rift in the G20 ahead of Friday’s pre-summit meeting of finance ministers, Kaoru Yosano, Japan’s finance minister, said he understood the European-led push to focus on tightening financial regulation. But he suggested such issues appeared cosmetic compared to more pressing economic problems.