Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Advocate of Better Ties with China, Dies at 90

Dragon Media News Desk

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has died at the age of 90. Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party announced on Monday that he died on October 22. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Fukuda became prime minister in September 2007 after Shinzo Abe resigned. He led the Japanese government for about a year before stepping down in September 2008.

As prime minister, Fukuda prioritized improving relations with China. At his invitation, Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Japan in May 2008, the first visit by a Chinese president to Japan in a decade. During the visit, the two countries pledged to build a mutually beneficial relationship based on shared strategic interests.

Fukuda continued working to improve Japan-China relations after retiring from active politics. In 2014, he met Chinese President Xi Jinping. His initiative helped pave the way for a summit between Xi and then-Japanese Prime Minister Abe.