World leaders expressed their condolences Sunday at the death of former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, but heaped praise on his achievement of getting Japan's faltering economy back on track and helping Asian neighbors out of their acute financial crisis.
Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said the death of the former prime minister is a great loss, not only to Japan but also the whole Asia region.
In a letter to Obuchi's wife, Chizuko, Goh paid tribute to the "humility and sincerity" of the former prime minister and his efforts to help countries hit by the financial turmoil that began in July 1997.