The Latest: Japan, China call off visit by Chinese president

BANGKOK (AP) — The Latest on the virus outbreak (all times local):

4 p.m.

China says a visit by its president, Xi Jinping, to Japan has been called off because both countries are focusing on combating the virus outbreak.

Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian says the two sides will be in close communication about a new time for the visit.

"The two countries both agree that President Xi Jinping's state visit to Japan must take place under the most appropriate timing, environment and atmosphere, and must be a complete success," Zhao said at a daily news briefing on Thursday.

The visit had been expected in April.

China has striven to improve ties with Japan as both come under U.S. tariffs meant to punish them for their trade practices. However, mutual suspicion runs high on both sides, driven in China primarily by memories of Japan's brutal occupation of parts of the country last century and China's claim to islands in the East China Sea controlled by Japan.