Xi Jinping: "Japan's ruling party should cherish the hard work and efforts of senior politicians."

(Beijing = Yonhap News) Correspondent Jeong Seong-jo = Chinese President Xi Jinping mourned former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who passed away on the 22nd, and sent a message that the Japanese ruler must protect the political foundation of China-Japan relations.

According to Xinhua News Agency on the 27th, President Xi sent a condolence message to the bereaved family of former Prime Minister Fukuda on this day.

President Xi said, "Mr. Fukuda was a faithful and responsible politician in Japan, and was also a long-time friend of the Chinese people. He has long devoted himself to China-Japan friendship and maintained a correct view of history. During his tenure, he signed the fourth political document between China and Japan, clarifying important principles for the development of relations between the two countries."

President Xi then said, "China will deeply engrave Mr. Fukuda's contribution to Sino-Japanese relations and the development of Asia," and added, "I hope that the bereaved family will carry on Mr. Fukuda's legacy and continue to work on China-Japan friendship projects."

He added, "We hope that the Japanese ruler will value the hard work and effort made by senior politicians and will substantially protect the political foundation of the relationship between the two countries by adhering to the four major political documents of China and Japan."

The 'four major political documents' mentioned by President Xi are the China-Japan Joint Statement issued upon the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972, the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed by the foreign ministers of both countries in 1978, the 'Joint Declaration on Efforts to Establish a Friendly and Cooperation Partnership for Peace and Development' announced by the two countries in 1998, and the 'Joint Statement on the Comprehensive Promotion of China-Japan Strategic Mutual Benefit Relations' signed by the leaders of the two countries in 2008.

These documents contain the 'One China' principle, respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposition to the pursuit of hegemony.

Former Prime Minister Fukuda is considered a dovish member of the Liberal Democratic Party, who has emphasized the importance of diplomacy with Asia.

Immediately after taking office, he answered reporters' questions about his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine by asking, "Is there a need to do something the other party doesn't like?" and is evaluated as having faced history head on without compromising with Japan's right-wing views.

Thanks to this, he maintained amicable relations with Korea and China during his tenure (2007-2008).

After leaving office, in 2014, when the conflict over the Senkaku Islands (Chinese name: Diaoyu Islands) was intensifying, he visited China in extreme secrecy and met with President Xi Jinping, laying the groundwork for a meeting between then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Xi.

President Xi's emphasis on the "efforts of senior Japanese politicians" in his condolences today is interpreted as a message aimed at current Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Relations between China and Japan have been strained for a year since Prime Minister Takaichi made a statement suggesting 'Taiwan's intervention in case of emergency' shortly after taking office in November last year.