The Japanese and Chinese governments have decided to postpone Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Japan that was scheduled for early April because of the spread of the new coronavirus infection in both countries, government sources said.
The decision will be finalized by the end of the week.
The government plans to adjust the schedule to allow Xi to visit Japan this autumn after the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
When Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met with China's top foreign policy official Yang Jiechi during his trip to Japan on Friday, they agreed Xi's visit would be difficult at present because both countries are busy dealing with the new coronavirus, according to a Japanese government official.
Xi's initial visit to Japan was considered for a April 6-10 time frame.
According to a senior Foreign Ministry official, the Japanese government regards Xi's Japan trip as the "culmination" of efforts to improve Japan-China relations.
China, which is trying to stabilize its relations with Japan amid ongoing tensions with the United States, is expected to have a positive response. However, it will take some time to rework the schedule to cope with the new coronavirus.
"Xi will come to Japan in autumn, at the earliest," the senior Japanese government official said.
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