Chinese food inspector delays Japan visit

TOKYO, March 2 (UPI) -- The Japan-China tainted dumplings saga continues with China's lead food quality director reportedly delaying a visit to Japan.

The visit by Li Changjiang, director of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, was to begin Sunday, the Kyodo news agency reported. However, it is reported the visit now may be rescheduled after China's National People's Congress Wednesday.

During the visit, Li was to discuss food safety measures with Japanese ministers, the report said.

The two countries are feuding over who was responsible for several Chinese food poisoning cases involving dumplings made in Japan. On Thursday, Chinese officials said it was "highly unlikely" the dumpling contamination occurred in China.

The matter is of such import it reportedly may impact an April visit to Japan by Chinese President Hu Jintao.