Japan's prime minister and the head of the International Olympic Committee have agreed to work closely to hold next year's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics safely.
Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and IOC President Thomas Bach spoke by phone for about 15 minutes on Wednesday. The talks were their first since Suga took office as prime minister last week.
The organizing committee of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games has stressed it has not started discussions on whether to suspend or postpone the Games due to the ongoing new coronavirus outbreak.
Committee Director General Toshiro Muto told reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday that the basic policy is to prepare for a safe Olympic and Paralympic Games.