Yoon: "Next Year, United Efforts to Prepare for 60th Anniversary of Korea-Japan Diplomatic Normalization" Kishida: "Shuttle Diplomacy to Continue"

10th Korea-Japan Summit Meeting... Visit to Korea After 1 Year

President Yoon Suk-yeol shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the South Korea-Japan summit held on the 26th at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol held a Korea-Japan summit on the 26th and stated, "Next year, marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, I hope we can work together to prepare for a historic turning point that will further advance Korea-Japan relations."

On the same day, President Yoon held a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, who visited Korea to attend the 9th Korea-Japan-China summit, at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon, saying, "I sincerely welcome Prime Minister Kishida's visit to Korea after one year."

President Yoon expressed, "Since shuttle diplomacy resumed last March after 12 years, I am pleased that the Prime Minister and I have each traveled between the two countries twice in just over a year," adding, "I am especially glad to meet the Prime Minister again in Seoul on the occasion of the Korea-Japan-China summit, which is being held for the first time in four years and five months."

"People-to-people exchanges expected to exceed record high of 10.51 million"

President Yoon explained that exchanges across various sectors have greatly increased over the past year based on the strong trust between the two leaders. He said, "As agreed between us in Tokyo last March and in Vilnius, Lithuania last July, all intergovernmental consultative bodies have been restored," and introduced, "This year, high-level exchanges continue in the fields of finance, industry, and advanced technology."

He particularly emphasized the significant increase in people-to-people exchanges between Korea and Japan. President Yoon stated, "Already 3 million people have traveled between the two countries in the first quarter of this year," and predicted, "This year, people-to-people exchanges could surpass the record high of 10.51 million set in 2018."

President Yoon expressed, "I am very pleased that the achievements in improving Korea-Japan relations are steadily accumulating," and stressed, "Based on these achievements, I hope the Prime Minister and I can work together to prepare for a historic turning point next year, the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, that will further advance our bilateral relations."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is holding a Korea-Japan summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul on the 26th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

"Strengthening bilateral cooperation to effectively address global challenges"

In response, Prime Minister Kishida said, "I sincerely express my respect and gratitude for the efforts and hospitality of President Yoon and the Korean government," adding, "One year ago, I visited Korea as Japan’s Prime Minister for the first time in 12 years, and afterward, I welcomed President Yoon to Hiroshima. I am very pleased to visit the fresh green Seoul again."

Prime Minister Kishida noted, "I first held talks with the President last March, and since then, I have counted that today’s meeting is our 10th face-to-face summit," and said, "I am very pleased to maintain close communication with the President through dialogues and phone calls. Based on the trust between our leaders, let us continue shuttle diplomacy going forward."

He continued, "Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and Korea," and said, "To further advance bilateral relations, I hope President Yoon and I can each issue instructions within our governments to promote preparations."

He added, "As the international community stands at a turning point in history, we hope to maintain and strengthen a free and open Indo-Pacific and further tighten Japan-Korea cooperation to effectively address global challenges."

At the Korea-Japan summit, on the Korean side, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun, Director of the National Security Office Jang Ho-jin, Ambassador to Japan Yoon Deok-min, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office Kim Tae-hyo, Senior Secretary for Public Relations Lee Do-woon, and Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs Park Chun-seop attended.

On the Japanese side, Chief Cabinet Secretary Moriya Hiroshi, Director-General of the National Security Secretariat Akiba Takeo, Ambassador to Korea Mizushima Koichi, Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Foreign Affairs Bureau Funakoshi Takehiro, Defense Ministry Defense Counselor Serizawa Kiyoshi, and Director-General of the Foreign Ministry’s Asia-Pacific Bureau Namazu Hiroyuki were present.

Before the bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Kishida, President Yoon also held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The three leaders will attend a welcoming dinner together in the evening.