ASEAN Foreign Ministers extend condolences over passing of Abe

"We, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers, are shocked and saddened by the fatal shooting of His Excellency Shinzo Abe, for which there can be no justification," ministers said in a statement published in the ASEAN Secretariat's website.

The ministers expressed their deepest sympathies and condolences to the governmentand people of Japan and to Abe's family, adding that Abe has been a beloved and good friend of ASEAN, the statement read.

Meanwhile, Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) president Hidetoshi Nishimura said: "It is with the greatest shock and most profound sorrow that I, and all of us at ERIA, have learned of the passing of Shinzo Abe."

He said the attack on Friday morning was despicable, and the institute was appalled by the loss of life of a noble statesman who has been a strong supporter of ERIA since the very beginning.

At the Second East Asia Summit held on Jan 15, 2007 in Cebu, Philippines, Abe, formally proposed establishing ERIA in front of numerous East Asia Summit Leaders.

According to Nishimura, the institute is here today due to Abe's outstanding leadership and unwavering support.

"On this sad occasion, to those closest to him, to the people of Japan, we grieve with you. We will keep his spirit and legacy alive through our work here at ERIA," he said in a statement.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo shared his photo with Abe along with the caption, "Allow me to extend our deepest condolences on the tragic demise of Shinzo Abe."

"We will always remember his contributions in strengthening Indonesia-Japan cooperation. May Abe's family and the Japanese people be given strength in this difficult time," Joko Widodo tweeted in his official Twitter account.