|
President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda agreed in Tokyo on Monday to hold working-level talks in June to restart stalled negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement. The two leaders also agreed to galvanize the bilateral Working Holiday Visa Program, including doubling the number of Korean and Japanese young adults participating in the program to 7,200 in 2009, with a goal of increasing the number to 10,000 by 2012.
According to Cheong Wa Dae, the two leaders reaffirmed their determination to expand bilateral relations into a mature partnership and pave the way for a new era for the two countries by restoring shuttle diplomacy between them.
Lee said, "We agreed on the importance of building bilateral relations like a deep-rooted tree that will not be shaken by strong winds. I think the two countries should further consolidate their cooperation for their mutual benefit and for the peace and prosperity of Northeast Asia and the world."
 |
|
President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at a joint press conference at Fukuda's residence on Monday morning./Yonhap
|
 |
|
Fukuda said, "We shared the view that we should try to raise Korean-Japanese relations to a mature partnership."
The two leaders also agreed to strengthen the Seoul-Washington-Tokyo trilateral relationship to find solutions to the North Korean nuclear issue.
Lee expressed support when Fukuda said, "We're going to normalize diplomatic relations with North Korea by liquidating the unfortunate past and comprehensively resolving all pending issues¡± such as the matter of Japanese victims of North Korea's abductions, and the North Korean nuclear and missile issues.
Lee and Fukuda agreed to consider establishing an industrial park exclusively for Japanese parts and materials producers in South Korea to facilitate Japanese investment, push for the expansion of exchange in the parts and materials industry, and launch a bilateral policy dialogue channel between two countries' government agencies in charge of small and medium-sized enterprises.
The two leaders also agreed to consolidate cooperation in the international community in addressing environmental issues, including global warming, energy problems, and aid to Asian and African countries.
Lee returned home on Monday evening after his seven-day trip to the U.S. and Japan.
Meanwhile, Kim Kwan-yong, governor of North Gyeongsang Province who accompanied Lee on his visit to Tokyo, signed a memorandum of understanding with a representative of Asahi Glass, a Japanese manufacturer of state-of-the-art LCD and PDP, on an investment of US$150 million in South Korea.
During Lee's visit to Japan, memoranda of understanding were signed between the two countries for altogether some $590 million in the parts and materials sector.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
