On October 19, President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolences to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, expressing condolences for the death of Tomiichi Murayama and condolences to the bereaved families.

Xi Jinping pointed out that Mr. Murayama is a Japanese politician with a sense of justice and an old friend of the Chinese people. He has long been committed to the cause of Sino-Japanese friendship. In 1995, as the then Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Murayama made a formal statement on historical issues, acknowledging and deeply reflecting on Japan's history of aggressive war and colonial rule, and apologizing to the victimized countries. The spirit of "village talk" should be adhered to. It is hoped that Japan and China will meet each other halfway, learn from history, face the future, safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations, and work together to comprehensively promote the development of China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations.