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Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who sought to strengthen relations with China during his time in office, has died at the age of 90, a ruling party official said on Monday.
Fukuda died on October 22, according to a Liberal Democratic Party official who spoke to AFP.
He served as prime minister for a year from September 2007, succeeding the late Shinzo Abe, whose first term in office also lasted just 12 months.
During his tenure, Fukuda made efforts to improve Japan’s relations with China, including inviting then Chinese President Hu Jintao to visit Japan.
Hu’s visit in May 2008 marked the first time a Chinese head of state had travelled to Japan in a decade.
During the visit, the two leaders issued a joint statement pledging to build a “mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests”.
Fukuda resigned in September 2008 as his approval ratings declined. He later retired from politics in 2012.
However, as relations between Tokyo and Beijing deteriorated over a disputed island chain and other historical issues, Fukuda travelled to China in 2014 to meet President Xi Jinping.
The talks helped pave the way for a summit between Xi and Abe during Abe’s second term as prime minister.
