Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has canceled planned visits to France, Germany and France in early May due to the expected continuation of the political standoff in the divided Diet, government officials said Wednesday.
Fukuda, however, will visit Russia from April 25-27 as scheduled and meet the Russian leadership, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said at a news conference.
The Golden Week holiday season from late April to early May is usually an opportunity for the prime minister to visit other countries and cultivate relations with world leaders.