China's top diplomat is planning to visit Japan next month to lay the groundwork for a potential summit between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping in July, sources close to bilateral relations said Tuesday.
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi, who occupies a post equivalent to a deputy prime minister and superior to foreign minister, is expected to meet Abe during his visit.
Abe told a Japanese television program on Monday that he hopes to meet Xi on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Germany in July, which both leaders plan to attend.