Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda died on October 22 at the age of 90, a Liberal Democratic Party official confirmed.
Fukuda served as Japan’s prime minister for approximately one year, taking office in September 2007 after succeeding Shinzo Abe, whose first tenure ended after just 12 months.
During his time in office, Fukuda focused on strengthening Japan’s relations with China. He invited then-Chinese President Hu Jintao to visit Japan, a trip that took place in May 2008 and marked the first visit by a Chinese head of state to the country in a decade.
The two leaders issued a joint statement pledging to build a “mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests”, reflecting efforts to deepen diplomatic and economic cooperation between the neighbouring countries.
Fukuda stepped down in September 2008 amid declining public approval ratings. He later retired from politics in 2012.
As relations between Tokyo and Beijing deteriorated over a disputed chain of islands and longstanding historical disagreements, Fukuda visited China in 2014 to meet President Xi Jinping.
His diplomatic engagement helped pave the way for a summit between Xi and Shinzo Abe during Abe’s second term as Japanese prime minister.
