Fukuda praised for friendly China policy

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda deserves "a high score" for his diplomacy with China, Koichi Kato, the new president of the Japan-China Friendship Association (JCFA), said yesterday.

Relations between Beijing and Tokyo and Japan had hit a low during Junichiro Koizumi's tenure as Japan's prime minister because of his persistent visits to the Yasukuni Shrine that honors Japanese World War II criminals.

Shinzo Abe put the relations on track with his "ice-breaking" visit to China in 2006 immediately after being sworn in as Japan's prime minister.