China offer Japan support on the virus outbreak

China on Friday offered Japan support and assistance during an outbreak of new coronavirus, even as infections continue to rise in China and in or parts of world.

Senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi met Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Japan on Friday and both leers stressed ir willingness to cooperate bilaterally to deal with outbreak.

Yang said China would actively provide support and assistance based on requests from Japan.

"We would like to overcome this difficulty with Japanese side," he told Motegi during meeting.

Motegi meanwhile stressed re were plans to change schedule of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Japan and that preparations would continue as planned.

Xi is due to visit Japan in April.

Japan's schools prepared to close for almost a month and entertainers cancelled events as a virus epidemic extended its spre through Asia into Europe and on Friday, into sub-Saharan Africa.

Japanese island of Hokkaido meanwhile, was declaring a state of emergency over rapid spre of new virus re.

goverr said emergency will continue until mid-March.