Former Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, known for trying to build stable ties with China, has died at the age of 90, a ruling party official said on Monday.
During his stint in power, he sought to improve relations with China and invited then-Chinese president Hu Jintao to visit Japan. “Mr. But as Tokyo’s ties with Beijing worsened over a disputed island chain and other historical issues, Fukuda visited China in 2014 to hold talks with President Xi Jinping, paving the way for a summit between Xi and Abe during his second term in power.
The two leaders issued a joint statement committing to a “mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests”. Yasuo Fukuda was an old friend of the Chinese people and made positive contributions to promoting the improvement and development of China-Japan relations,” Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told a news briefing.
Relations between the countries soured after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested last year that Japan could intervene militarily in the event of an attack on Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory.
