Japanese PM cancels India, Philippines trips amid virus surge
Tokyo, Apr 21 (EFE).- Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday canceled plans to visit India and the Philippines due to the Covid-19 situation.
In a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said that Suga took that step so that he could focus on taking measures to stem the spread of the pandemic in Japan, which is experiencing an uptick in cases less than 100 days before it is due to host the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Suga was planning to travel to India and the Philippines at the end of April on a tour aimed at strengthening regional cooperation against China’s growing influence.
Katsunobu was finalizing preparations for Suga’s first summit with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, to talk bilateral cooperation in various fields, and the Quad group, which comprises the United States, Japan, Australia and India.
Suga’s trip to the Philippines was to coincide with the 65th Anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations with Japan.
The coronavirus’ fourth wave in Japan has forced the authorities to declare a state of health emergency in Tokyo, Osaka and Hyogo. EFE
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