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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Beijing, October 17 (Xinhua) — China is deeply saddened by the passing of former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and offers its sincere condolences to his family. Mr. Murayama will always be remembered for his contributions to China-Japan friendship, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday.
T. Murayama, who led Japan's government in the mid-1990s, died on Friday at the age of 101.
Lin Jian noted at a press briefing that T. Murayama was a long-standing friend of the Chinese people and had been committed to the cause of friendship between China and Japan for many years.
During a visit to China in May 1995, then-Prime Minister Tokio Murayama visited the Lugou Bridge in Beijing and the adjacent Museum of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. While visiting the museum, Murayama left the following inscription: "Look into the face of history and pray for friendship and eternal peace between Japan and China."
On August 15 of that year, on the 50th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender, Prime Minister T. Murayama issued an official statement on historical issues, expressing deep remorse for Japan's colonial rule and aggression and apologizing to the countries affected by the war.
"Mr. T. Murayama was a politician with a sense of justice, and his contribution to the development of Sino-Japanese friendship will forever be remembered," Lin Jian assured.
Recalling that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Lin Jian noted that the statement made by T. Murayama in 1995 is an important position and a solemn commitment of the Japanese government to the peoples of the affected Asian countries and the international community regarding the history of aggression and colonial rule, and this commitment must be strictly observed.
China hopes that Japan will soberly assess and reassess its history of aggression, follow the path of peaceful development, win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions, and work with China to build constructive and stable China-Japan relations that meet the requirements of the new era, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson added.
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