Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Thursday expressed condolences over former Japanese ambassador to China Koreshige Anami's passing and extended sympathy to his family.

Anami, the Japanese ambassador to China from 2001 to 2006, died at 83 on November 13 at his residence in Tokyo from pneumonia, the family said, Japanese media The Mainichi reported. 

Mao said that Anami had long engaged in diplomacy with China. After retirement, he continued to contribute to China-Japan relations, serving as a member of the Japan side of the 21st Century Committee for China-Japan Friendship, among other roles. His efforts made a positive contribution to the improvement and development of China-Japan relations.

Chinese Ambassador to Japan, along with several former Chinese Ambassadors to Japan who had worked with Anami have sent condolence messages to his family, said Mao. 

Global Times