Former Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda dies at 90

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TOKYO: 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. Fukuda passed away on Oct 22, the official from the Liberal Democratic Party said. He led Japan for a year from September 2007 after replacing the late premier Shinzo Abe, whose first term ended after just 12 months. During his stint in pow­er, he sought to improve relations with China and invited then-Chinese president Hu Jintao to visit Jap­an. Hu’s trip in May 2008 made him the first Chinese head of state to visit the country in a decade. The two leaders issued a joint statement committing to a “mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests”. Fukuda resigned in Sept 2008 as his approval ratings dropped. He retired as a politician in 2012. 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. Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2026

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