Japan Not to Call for Postponing Xi Visit: Suga

February 5, 2020

Tokyo- Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday that Japan does not plan to call for the postponing of a state visit to Japan by Chinese President Xi Jinping expected for early April.

"At this moment, we intend to steadily advance preparations to realize a Japan visit (by Xi) as planned," Suga said at a press conference. "We do not expect that a postponement will be sought from the Japanese side."

The top government spokesman made the remarks in response to concerns that the widespread outbreak of pneumonia caused by the new strain of coronavirus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan may affect the planned presidential visit to Japan.

Suga also refuted a media report that the Japanese and Chinese governments have postponed a related preparatory meeting in order to deal with the coronavirus crisis, saying, "There are no cases of postponements, with no specific date set for such a meeting."

At a press conference Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying thanked aid from Japan aimed at helping stop the coronavirus outbreak.

Hua introduced specific examples of aid, such as cases of the Japanese government and businesses sending face masks and protective wear. She also praised heartwarming Japanese actions, including stores putting up signs reading "Wuhan Jiayou," meaning "Hang in there, Wuhan" in Chinese.

The comments are thought to be efforts by Beijing to soften up public sentiment toward Japan in the run-up to Xi's planned state visit and curb the United States' hard-line measures against China in its coronavirus prevention policies. Jiji Press