Kurz: 'surprised' at Abe resignation, comments on virus

Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said he was "surprised" to learn that Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, intends to step down because of a chronic health problem that has resurfaced.

Abe announced on Friday that he was resigning from his post due to health reasons.

Speaking to reporters in Vienna, Kurz said he was planning to talk to Abe "whom I know personally."

Kurz also was optimistic that life might return to normal sooner rather than later in Austria, speaking on the latest pandemic situation in the country.

He said that it was very likely that the coronavirus crisis would not last as long as many experts had originally predicted.

"Ongoing research into vaccine development, treatment methods and drugs, but also faster test methods mean that this should be possible," he said.