Tokyo, April 17: In a surprising development, Japan on Tuesday assured $60 billion funding to International Monetary Fund (IMF) to strengthen its financial muscle to help eurozone recover from debt crisis.

The contribution by Tokyo, to be formally announced during G20 meet later this week, is expected to trigger similar reaction from other non-European members, said Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi.

IMF, which intends to boost its funding to $600 billion, will have tough task ahead to convince other powers to repeat Japan's move, specially China which is witnessing slowdown. However, China has expressed its intention to give all possible help to IMF towards eurozone.

Azumi in a statement said, "following a series of eurozone policy response, it is important to strengthen IMF."

"I am hopeful that many other countries would pledge contributions to IMF," added Azumi.

Earlier last week, IMF chief Christine Lagarde, however had said that it would not need as much money as it had earlier thought because economic risks waned."

In a thankful note on Japan's announcement of contribution Lagarde said, "I am grateful to Japan's leadership and strong commitment to multilateralism and I call on the broader fund members to follow Japan's lead." On the other-hand, election bound on the recovery nation the US said that it will contribute to fund. Canada repeated the same.

China, Brazil, India expressed willingness to contribute but on precondition of increased voting power.