Japan's former prime minister Yasuo Fukuda dies at 90

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda died on Monday at the age of 90.

Fukuda worked for a Japanese oil company after graduating from Waseda University for more than 17 years before he entered politics in 1990, succeeding his father, Takeo Fukuda, to carry on a political legacy that prioritised ties with Beijing.

Later serving as chief government spokesman, Fukuda went on to become prime minister from 2007 to 2008.

He focused on building friendly relations with President Hu Jintao and served as a key foreign policy figure.

His term lasted about a year as he governed amid a divided parliament, with his Liberal Democratic Party holding a majority only in the lower house.