Beijing mourns veteran Japanese statesman Yohei Kono

China's top legislator Zhao Leji sent a message of condolence on Thursday to the family of Yohei Kono following his death, expressing hope that Kono's family would carry forward his legacy and play a positive role in helping bring China-Japan relations back on the right track.

Kono, who was president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade and former speaker of Japan's House of Representatives, died at the age of 89 on Monday, Japanese media reported on Wednesday. Kono was also a former president of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said the veteran Japanese statesman was an old friend of the Chinese people who had long been committed to China-Japan friendship.

He noted that in 1993, Kono, then Japan's chief cabinet secretary, issued the Kono Statement on the issue of "comfort women", which continues to have a positive influence today.

The landmark statement acknowledged the Japanese military's direct involvement in setting up "comfort stations" and forcibly recruiting women on the Korean Peninsula, in China, and elsewhere, and expressed remorse and an apology.

At a regular news briefing in Beijing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that Kono, who upheld a correct view of history, was widely regarded as a leading figure in defending Japan's pacifist constitution.

Kono had once said Article 9 of Japan's Constitution, which clearly stipulates Japan's renunciation of war and non-maintenance of war potential, "represents our resolve and readiness, as well as our ideal", adding that it is the mission of every politician to strive for that ideal.

"He devoted his life to China-Japan friendship, visited China dozens of times, and made important contributions to promoting the development of bilateral relations and advancing exchanges and cooperation between the two countries," Lin said.

Lin said that even in his final days, Kono remained deeply concerned about China-Japan relations and, with tears in his eyes, expressed his wish to visit China one last time. "Regrettably, due to his deteriorating health, that wish was not fulfilled," Lin said.

The spokesman said that Kono once said he would never forget the shock and joy he felt at the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations, stressing that history should not be forgotten, the spirit that underpinned the normalization of ties should be carried forward, and the commitments made at the time should be honored.

"Those words carry even greater practical significance under the current circumstances," Lin added.