China dismisses reports of Abe's visit on Septemper

The Foreign Ministry told China Daily on Wednesday that it "has not heard of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's September visit to China", dismissing Japanese media reports that said Abe will start a visit to China on Sept 3.

A front-page story in Japan's leading newspaper Mainichi Shimbun on Tuesday quoted "multiple sources involved in diplomacy" as saying that "Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to visit China on Sept 3 to meet with President Xi Jinping".

The newspaper said Abe may arrive in the afternoon to avoid the parade in the morning, and "the two governments are finalizing consultations over the summit meeting".

The Spokesperson's Office of Foreign Ministry said in a written reply to China Daily on Wednesday that it "has not heard of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's September visit to China".

"I would like to reiterate that what the Chinese side has invited the leader of the relevant country to is the 'September 3' commemorative activities," the office said.