Japan and China are thinking to postpone state visit for President of China, Xi Jinping. (Image via EJ Insight)

Japan, China ponder to postpone Xi's visit in Spring

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Politics & Economic
News Flash Japan
Mar 02, 2020
1732
Sources from the Japanese government revealed that Japan and China are considering postponing the state visit for President of China, Xi Jinping, which was supposedly held this upcoming Spring as the two countries are struggling to tackle the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The sources said that Tokyo had already told Beijing that the time has been difficult for the visit. The schedule for Xi’s visit could be postponed until the upcoming autumn or even later until Japan has finished hosting the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, held from July to August 2020. The final decision will most likely be taken this week.

Previously on Saturday, the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, said that Xi’s visit to Japan was certain since it is the first state visit by a Chinese leader in a decade, a signal of peace and improvement in bilateral relations. Therefore, a solid outcome is needed.

Preparatory meetings between Tokyo and Beijing for the state visit had been canceled due to the COVID-19. When China’s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, visited Tokyo last February, the visit was behind schedule due to the virus outbreak in both countries.

However, the stronger opposing voices came from the opposition and Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Aside from the COVID-19, they questioned China’s maritime assertiveness and human rights toward Hong Kong.

Moreover, both countries have not forged a document for Xi and Abe to sign in the state visit, making it even harder for both countries to yield significant outcomes from the state visit.

Xi was expected to visit Tokyo in early April, thus becoming the first Chinese leader to visit the Land of the Rising Sun since Hu Jintao in May 2008. The state visit would include a meeting with the Emperor of Japan, Emperor Naruhito, and a banquet at the Imperial Palace. To meet the Emperor, a meeting should be finalized one month in advance.

Source: https://bit.ly/32Kf9f0

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