Asia

Japan, China Concerned Over Economic Risks After US-Iran Showdown

A financial board in Tokyo shows the US dollar falling to a three-month low at the 107-yen level on Jan. 8, 2020, as Middle East tensions escalated after Iran fired missiles against Iraqi bases hosting U.S. troops. / Kyodo

By Kyodo News 9 January 2020

BEIJING—Japanese Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and his Chinese counterpart He Lifeng discussed on Wednesday the rising tensions in the Middle East, stressing the importance of regional stability in the wake of Iran’s missile strikes against US forces in Iraq.

“Rapid fluctuations in financial markets or excessive speculative movements that do not reflect the macroeconomic fundamentals are undesirable,” Nishimura told reporters following a working dinner with He in Beijing.