Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on July 9 expressed “deep remorse” for what his country did during World War II and emphasized the path Japan has chosen as a peaceful nation since its defeat in the war.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Source: AFP/VNA)

“Carrying a deep sense of remorse for what it did during the war, Japan has always followed the path of a peace-loving nation,” Mr. Abe said at a seminar held at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

“Japan has achieved what can be called a miraculous economic development and has prospered together with other countries in Asia and the world,” he stressed. He called for a “rules-based” world in the 21st century based on a free, tolerant and open system that can accept different views.

He believes it is possible and Japan “wants to play a leading role in building and realizing the goal of a new world.”

Japan's neighbors such as China and South Korea have always asked Prime Minister Abe to use phrases such as "sincere apology," "colonialism" and "invasion" in addition to the phrase "deep remorse" as in the statement that Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama made on August 15, 1995, at the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of Japan's surrender to the Allies./.

(According to VNA, VN+)