AN expected meeting between Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and high-ranking officials in Japan was canceled following reports by Saudi’s state media that the country’s 88-year-old King will undergo treatment for a lung inflammation.
The oil-rich Gulf nation’s de facto leader had been scheduled to visit Japan from the 20th through the 23rd of May and rub elbows with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
According to Saudi state media, 88-year-old King Salman would be treated with antibiotics until the inflammation subsides.
The trip was supposed to be the Crown Prince’s trip to Japan in 2019. He also delayed his trip to Pakistan last week for unspecified reasons.
The new date for the meeting will be announced to the public once it becomes available.
Kishida met the Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia in July of last year as part of his three-day tour to the Middle East.
Both agreed to launch a strategic dialogue between foreign ministers to tackle a wide range of issues during the meeting.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries started in 1955.
Saudi Arabia sees Japan as a critical ally in helping achieve its ambitious objectives under its Vision 2030 goals which seek to diversify the Gulf country’s economy and reduce dependence on oil.
