U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday offered his government's condolences to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead during a stump speech last week.

"We American people feel a sense of loss along with the people of Japan," Blinken said after meeting Kishida at the prime minister's office. He changed his schedule following a trip to Thailand so he could stop over in Japan before returning to the United States.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L), along with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on July 11, 2022, after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to express his condolences over the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Three days before, Abe was fatally shot while delivering a stump speech ahead of the July 10 House of Councillors election. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Calling Abe "a man of vision with the ability to realize that vision," Blinken told reporters, "In his time in office, Prime Minister Abe did more than anyone to elevate the relationship between the United States and Japan to new heights."

In the meeting, Kishida thanked Blinken for his visit and the warm feelings extended by the United States, telling him he wants to uphold Abe's legacy by reinforcing the bilateral alliance, according to the Japanese government.

Blinken told reporters he shared with Kishida letters to the Abe family from U.S. President Joe Biden. "We will do everything we can to help our friends carry the burden of this loss," he said.

Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister who left office in 2020, was fatally shot Friday by a 41-year-old man while he was delivering a stump speech on a street in the western city of Nara ahead of Sunday's House of Councillors election.

Kishida on Saturday spoke with Biden by phone. They discussed how Abe's legacy will live on as their countries continue the important task of defending peace and democracy, according to the White House.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel arrive at the Japanese prime minister's office in Tokyo on July 11, 2022. (Kyodo)

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