Paroubek leaves Japan early as last minute meeting with Chinese leader is arranged

The Czech prime minister, Jiri Paroubek, is to cut short a visit to Japan in order to meet the president of China, Hu Jintao. Mr Paroubek had been due to leave Japan for China on Sunday but will now set off a day earlier, after a meeting with the Chinese leader was organised at the last minute. The Czech prime minister said it would be mistake not to take the opportunity to meet Hu Jintao, who he described as the second most powerful man in the world.

While in Japan Mr Paroubek has met Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Emperor Akihito; on Friday he took part in Czech national day at the World Expo, which is being held in the city of Aichi.