Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday extended condolences over the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama. In his message to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Xi also expressed sympathy to Murayama's family.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Xi depicted Murayama as a Japanese politician with a strong sense of justice and an old friend of the Chinese people. He noted that Murayama had long been committed to fostering China-Japan friendship. In 1995, Murayama, as the Japanese Prime Minister, delivered a significant statement acknowledging and reflecting on Japan's history of aggressive wars and colonial rule, offering an apology to the victim countries.

Xi emphasized the importance of upholding the spirit of "the Murayama Statement" and expressed hope that Japan will collaborate with China to learn from history, look towards the future, and maintain the political foundation of their bilateral relations. He called for a joint effort to advance the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit comprehensively.