Japan and China have agreed to boost their relations ahead of a planned visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Japan in June, his first since coming to power in 2013.
China's top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, told Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday that the timing is appropriate for the two sides to deepen ties.
Abe said Xi's visit would be a catalyst for further developing relations.
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, speak at Abe's official residence in Tokyo Friday, May 17, 2019. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko, Pool)
Yang is meeting top officials in Japan to discuss details of Xi's visit, when he will attend a Group of 20 summit.
The two Asian powers have disputes over the ownership of tiny islands and undersea deposits in the East China Sea, as well as over wartime history, but their relations have improved recently amid the U.S. trade war with China.
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi, left, and Japanese officials shake hands prior to a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Abe's official residence in Tokyo Friday, May 17, 2019. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko, Pool)
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi greet media as he walks to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Abe's official residence in Tokyo Friday, May 17, 2019. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko, Pool)
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Athletics left-hander Ken Waldichuk had reconstructive surgery on his troublesome pitching elbow and will be sidelined all season, another tough injury blow for the pitcher this past year.
Already on the 60-day injured list with a ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his pitching arm, he was examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday and it was determined he needed the procedure. Waldichuk suffered a setback in his rehab after facing hitters April 29.
The surgery performed by ElAttrache included a flexor tendon repair and a UCL reconstruction with internal brace procedure. Waldichuk will return to Oakland and his rehabilitation.
Waldichuk had been working his way back from an offseason procedure to remove scar tissue from his pitching elbow to help alleviate pain he experienced after his final start of the 2023 season.
Waldichuk pitched Sept. 29 on the road against the Los Angeles Angels and then began experiencing discomfort. He was later diagnosed with a flexor tendon strain and an ulnar collateral ligament sprain following an MRI exam.
He was first examined by Dr. Mike Freehill at Stanford and then also by ElAttrache. Waldichuk chose to go the conservative route for rehab and had a Tenex procedure with Dr. Steve Yoon on Oct. 17 to remove the scar tissue. He had a follow-up PRP injection to the flexor tendon on Oct. 24 and began physical therapy.
Waldichuk went 4-9 with a 5.36 ERA in 35 appearances and 22 starts with one save over 141 innings for the A’s in 2023, his first full big league season.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
FILE - Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Ken Waldichuk delivers during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 24, 2023, in Chicago. Waldichuk had reconstructive surgery on his troublesome pitching elbow and will be sidelined all season, another tough injury blow for the pitcher this past year. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
