Japan FM says Chinese counterpart invited him to China for official visit

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Sunday said that his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi invited him for an official visit during a recent phone conversation.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Sunday said that his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi invited him for an official visit during a recent phone conversation. However, he added that arrangements for the visit are not in progress, Kyodo News reported.

Hayashi and Wang agreed on the need to stabilize relations between their countries but remained apart on territorial and human rights issues when they spoke on Thursday. "Nothing is set, and no arrangements are being made," Hayashi said while appearing on a television program.

Asked about US President Joe Biden giving consideration to a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February to protest alleged human rights violations in China's far-western Xinjiang region, Hayashi only said the matter is to be assessed by the Japanese government "on our own." As for Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who has not been seen in public since accusing Chinese veteran politician Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault, Hayashi said he is "paying close attention" to the situation. (ANI)