Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 1600 GMT, Jan. 4

SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed not to conduct the joint war games between Seoul and Washington during the South Korea-hosted Winter Olympic Games slated to kick off in February, Moon's office said Thursday.

During the phone conversation, Moon and Trump agreed not to stage the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, codenamed Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, according to the Blue House. (S.Korea-U.S.-DPRK)

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ISLAMABAD -- The gulf is widening between Pakistan and the United States, two longtime allies in anti-terrorism, after U.S. President Donald Trump's recent accusations of deception and providing a safe haven for terrorists against Pakistan.

In his first Tweet of the year on Monday, Trump accused Pakistan for lying to the United States and offering "little help" in hunting terrorists in Afghanistan. Furious Trump even threatened to cut aid to Pakistan. (Pakistan-U.S.-Row)

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COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka's leading wildlife experts and environmentalists on Thursday welcomed China's decision to ban ivory sales, saying all countries should follow China's example in order to save tuskers globally.

Leading Environmentalist and a member of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka, Vidya Abhayagunawardena told Xinhua that China's decision would safeguard elephants across the world. (Sri Lanka-China-Ivory Ban)

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TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday reiterated his commitment to revising Japan's war-renouncing Constitution though refraining from setting out a time schedule.

Speaking at a New Year press conference in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, after visiting the Ise Grand Shrine, Abe said that he hopes the year 2018 will bring progress in the debate toward a first-ever revision to the postwar Constitution. (Japan-Constitution-Revision) Enditem