[Global Times-Global Network Reporter Xing Xiaojing] According to Japanese media reports, former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama died of aging in a hospital in Oita City on the morning of the 17th at the age of 101.

´åɽ¸»ÊÐ was born on March 3, 1924 in Japan, first elected to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly in 1972, and became Prime Minister of Japan in 1994.

On August 15th, 1995, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender, then Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama published the famous "Murayama Talk" in the form of a cabinet resolution, pointing out that "in a recent period, China embarked on the road of war due to national policy mistakes, which plunged its citizens into a crisis of life and death. Colonial rule and aggression brought great harm and pain to many countries, especially Asian countries." This is the first time that the Japanese Prime Minister has publicly apologized to the war-victimized countries on the August 15th anniversary.

Xiang Haoyu, a distinguished researcher at the Asia-Pacific Institute of China Institute of International Studies, said in an interview with the Global Times on 17th that Tomiichi Murayama was a politician who left an important political legacy in Japanese politics after the war. His "Murayama Talk" during his tenure as Prime Minister explicitly recognized Japan's foreign aggression and apologized to the Asian victimized countries for the first time, which set a benchmark for Japan's historical cognition.

"After leaving office, Tomiichi Murayama has long been committed to developing Sino-Japanese friendship. He has visited China many times, actively supported and promoted people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and emphasized the importance of building long-term peaceful and friendly relations between Japan and China." Xiang Haoyu said,"At a time when Japan's political right-leaning trend continues to develop and historical revisionism is in full swing, Japanese politicians need to revisit Murayama's political legacy, adhere to pacifism, and develop good relations with Asian neighbors in a posture of learning from history and facing the future."

In an interview with the Global Times, the head of the Japanese "Heritage and Development of the Village Talk Conference" Fouta Cao Cui said: "The Village Talk" clearly pointed out that "the two countries deepen mutual understanding, build friendly, cooperative and harmonious bilateral relations not only for the two countries, but also for Asia's peace, stability and prosperity has an indispensable huge impact."

¡°Mr.´åɽ has always taught us that friendship between Japan and China is crucial for peace and development in Asia. We will inherit the spirit of Mr.´åɽ¸»ÊÐ and will work wholeheartedly to build peaceful friendship with all countries in Asia, especially with China. I believe that friendship and solidarity in the Middle East are crucial for peaceful development in Asia.¡±

The "Global Times" reporter noticed that when they learned of the death of former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, many China people mourned online, saying that "former Prime Minister Murayama is a messenger of Sino-Japanese friendship and an old friend of the China people. Have a good trip!" "Mr. Murayama is a politician with a conscience. The China people will not forget you."