Japan says Saudi crown prince visit postponed over King Salman’s health

Tokyo, Japan

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Japan’s top government spokesman said Monday a planned visit this week by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been postponed “due to the health condition of King Salman”. The announcement came hours after the Royal Court in Riyadh said Prince Mohammed’s 88-year-old father had a lung infection and was undergoing treatment involving antibiotics.

Prince Mohammed had been due to meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the Japanese emperor on his trip from Monday, which would have been his first to Japan since 2019. But Saudi Arabia’s government informed Tokyo late on Sunday that, due to King Salman’s health, the visit had been postponed, Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.

“The visit of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed to Japan will be re-coordinated between the two countries,” Hayashi said. Saudi sources told AFP on Monday that members of the delegation would still travel to Japan for some talks.