Japanese Government to Proceed with Xi Jinping's State Visit Despite China's Two Sessions Postponement

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] As the Chinese government postponed the largest political event, the Two Sessions (the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Japanese government announced on the 25th that it will proceed with President Xi Jinping's state visit to Japan as scheduled.

According to Sankei Shimbun and others, Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, said at a regular briefing on the same day that President Xi's state visit scheduled for early April will be "quietly prepared as planned." Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also said, "We are monitoring China's response to COVID-19 and other developments, but at present, President Xi's visit to Japan will proceed as scheduled."

These remarks by key Japanese officials came after speculation arose that the visit might become difficult following China's cancellation of the Two Sessions the previous day. The Chinese government announced the postponement of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) 3rd session, which was scheduled to open on the 5th of next month. They did not specify when the NPC will be held.

The Yomiuri Shimbun analyzed the official postponement of the NPC as increasing "the uncertainty surrounding President Xi's state visit to Japan scheduled for April." Citing a Chinese Communist Party official, Yomiuri reported that recently, instructions were issued from the core of the Xi Jinping administration to verify through various channels whether President Xi's visit would be welcomed in Japan.

The Asahi Shimbun also reported on the NPC postponement, evaluating that "the possibility of affecting President Xi's state visit scheduled for early April has increased." The Mainichi Shimbun quoted a senior official from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying, "The NPC is the most important schedule in China," and "President Xi's visit to Japan will be possible only after the NPC is held."

Accordingly, President Xi's state visit is expected to be affected depending on the timing of the NPC. If the NPC is held after April, it will realistically be difficult for President Xi to visit Japan in early April. Japanese media expect Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party responsible for foreign affairs, to visit Japan on the 28th to 29th to coordinate President Xi's visit schedule.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.