China's leader Xi Jinping expressed his condolences on Saturday over the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whom Xi said had worked hard to improve relations between the neighbors, Chinese state media reported.
Japan's longest serving modern leader was gunned down on Friday in the city of Nara while making a campaign speech for a parliamentary election. A 41-year-old Japanese male suspect has been arrested.
"I deeply regret his sudden death," state media quoted Xi as saying on behalf of the Chinese government and people in a message to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.