Japan's Suga - Panel meeting not aimed at deciding sales tax hike

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's top government spokesman said an advisory panel meeting on the global economy held earlier on Wednesday was not aimed at deciding whether or not to raise the sales tax next year.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga made the comment after the first of a series of meetings initiated by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to help him prepare for a Group of Seven summit to be hosted by Japan in May.

(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Chris Gallagher)