China denies reports of Ex-diplomat's Japan tour

BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Monday denied Japanese media reports stating that a former senior diplomat is planning to visit Japan.

Japanese press reported that Tang Jiaxuan, a former state councilor, plans to visit Japan as chairman of the Chinese side of the China-Japan Friendship Committee for the 21st Century in late March to attend a committee meeting.

The reports are untrue, spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing, adding that the schedule for the committee's fourth meeting has not been settled and that both sides have maintained communication.