Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the nation's longest-serving premier, said on Friday he is resigning due to health reasons.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the nation's longest-serving premier, said on Friday he is resigning due to health reasons.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, August 28, 2020. Franck Robichon/Pool via REUTERS
Here is what some international leaders and businesspeople are saying about Abe:
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON
"Prime Minister Abe is a man of integrity and wisdom. He has been the senior statesman in our region and across the globe, a strong promoter of open trade and an outstanding international diplomat for Japan. He has advocated for the region's prosperity and stability, bringing his leadership as an experienced statesman of the first order.
"Prime Minister Abe steps down as a regional leader having made unprecedented contributions, particularly as we respond to the health and economic impacts of COVID-19."
TAIWAN PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN
"Prime Minister Abe was always friendly to Taiwan, whether on policy or the rights and interests of Taiwan's people – he was extremely positive. We value his friendly feelings towards Taiwan and hope he is healthy."
KWONG TAE-SHIN, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERATION OF KOREAN INDUSTRIES, A SOUTH KOREAN BUSINESS LOBBY GROUP
"President Moon Jae-in and Abe do not have good personal relationship, which contributed to adverse bilateral ties. When a new leader takes office in Japan, he can give momentum to improving bilateral relations. The two countries acknowledge that unnecessary diplomatic and trade conflicts would not help each other at a time when COVID -19 further adds difficulty to trade and business activities globally."
MARCUS SCHURMANN, CEO, GERMAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN JAPAN
"He did a lot of good with regards just to the fact that he was one of the key promoters for multilateralism and free trade and did a lot to move to Japan back onto the world stage. Japan recovered the visibility and recognition the third-largest economy in the world deserves.
"We have FTAs and he also tackled a lot of difficult problems. Just thinking about relations with China, relations also with Russia, and also the difficult relationship with the U.S. at least since Trump came into power.
"I do not want to say he failed, but at least what is an unsolved problem is the relationship was Korea. I think that's the kind of problem which his successor has to work on.
"He succeeded in bringing the Olympics to Tokyo. I think this is also a major achievement we should not forget."
