Tokyo, 9 September, /AJMEDIA/
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Friday that Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, who died the previous day, contributed “greatly” to cementing bilateral relations, citing her visit to Japan.
“She played a significant role in creating world peace and prosperity,” Kishida told reporters at his office, adding the queen’s death was a “big loss” to the international community.
Noting that he cannot hide his sadness, the Japanese prime minister expressed condolences to the royal family, the British government and people.
The 96-year-old queen, one of the world’s longest-reigning monarchs, made the first visit to Japan by a British monarch in May 1975 and met Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa.