Macron cancels next month's Tahiti visit

12:55 pm on 4 March 2020

French president Emmanuel Macron has cancelled next month's trip to French Polynesia because of the coronavirus outbreak.

French President Emmanuel Macron answering questions during a media conference at the Elysee Palace Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Paris.

French president Emmanuel Macron. Photo: AP Photo / Michel Euler

The Elysee Palace said the visit was being deferred to a later date.

The move also cancels the next One Planet Summit as well as the France-Oceania summit planned with leaders of the Pacific Island states.

His three-day Tahiti visit was also expected to deal with France's legacy of the nuclear weapons tests.

Last July, Mr Macron deferred a trip to Tahiti planned for late last year until this year.

No reason was given for the change of plan.

Earlier, he was expected to visit Tahiti to coincide with a meeting of the European Union's Overseas Countries and Territories Association.

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