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| In this May 9, 2018, file photo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, left, and Korean President Moon Jae-in pose for photo prior to their summit in Tokyo. AP |
World leaders wished Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a rapid recovery Friday and praised his contributions to bilateral relations during his years as Japan's longest-serving leader. Abe announced the same day that he was stepping down because of health problems. He is expected to stay on until a new governing party leader is elected and formally approved by parliament.
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UNITED NATIONS: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesman said the U.N. chief wishes Abe a full recovery and salutes ''the prime minister's distinguished career ... and his consistent and constructive engagement with the U.N. to address global challenges.'' Guterres ''had a very productive relationship with Prime Minister Abe,'' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, pointing to their work on a number of issues especially universal health care initiatives.
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SOUTH KOREA: South Korean President Moon Jae-in's office said Abe dedicated many years to the development of bilateral relations and achieved ''various meaningful accomplishments'' as Japan's longest-serving prime minister. It said Seoul will continue to work with Tokyo's next prime minister and Cabinet to promote ''friendship and cooperation'' between the countries. Relations between South Korea and Japan sank to their lowest point in decades last year as they feuded over trade issues, wartime history and military cooperation.
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GERMANY: Longtime German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who worked with Abe during both of his spells in office, sent him a message saying he was ''always a constructive and reliable partner in our common commitment to multilateralism, free trade, peaceful conflict resolution and rules-based order.'' ''For the future, I wish you a swift and complete recovery and personal well-being,'' she wrote.
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TAIWAN: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Abe ''has always been very friendly to Taiwan. He has always been very positive, no matter it be his policies or his feelings toward the Taiwanese people. We cherish the friendship he has for Taiwan. We also wish him good health.''
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CHINA: China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian declined to comment directly on Abe's health, saying it was Japan's internal affair. However, he added that ''China and Japan are close neighbors. We are willing to work with Japan to jointly press ahead with continuous improvement and development of China-Japan relations.''
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BRITAIN: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab paid tribute to ''the great things'' that Abe has achieved, and said he ''leaves a strengthened U.K.-Japanese friendship, which we look forward to continuing in the years ahead. I wish him well for the future.''
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PHILIPPINES: Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. described Abe as Japan's ''greatest postwar PM'' in a tweet. He said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Abe had a frank relationship. ''Watching President Duterte and PM Abe talking was like watching two old friends, no holds barred, talking frankly and freely of the true lay of the land and what can and cannot be done,'' Locsin said.
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INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: IOC President Thomas Bach credited Abe with the return of the Olympics to Japan after the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics and 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. ''All the Japanese athletes and the athletes of the entire world are very grateful to him,'' Bach said. The Olympics were to be held in Tokyo this year but were postponed a year because of the coronavirus. (AP)
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