South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday held his first summit talks with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) gathering within the southeastern metropolis of Gyeongju.
Takaichi arrived in South Korea for a three-day go to, days after changing into Japan’s first feminine chief. Their assembly was intently watched because the talks will function a key barometer for the way forward for the 2 neighbours’ relations, which had improved considerably underneath her two predecessors, Yonhap information company reported.
Takaichi’s go to comes amid rising uncertainty in Seoul-Tokyo relations following her election as Japan’s first feminine chief, who’s extensively identified for her hawkish stance on previous historical past points stemming from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
She landed at Gimhae Worldwide Airport within the southeastern port metropolis of Busan at 2:48 p.m. after departing Tokyo earlier within the day.
Takaichi has described South Korea as a key associate and expressed her fondness for Korean seaweed and dramas throughout a press convention on the day of her inauguration, in what was seen as a transfer to ease Seoul’s issues.
She additionally kept away from visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honours conflict criminals and has lengthy drawn criticism from South Korea and China for glorifying Japan’s militaristic previous. As an alternative, she despatched an providing to Yasukuni through the current fall competition simply forward of her election.
Lee was fast to supply a congratulatory message on Takaichi’s election, expressing hope for additional strengthening “future-oriented, mutually helpful cooperation” between the 2 nations.
Throughout her three-day go to, Takaichi can even attend the principle APEC Financial Leaders’ Assembly, slated for Friday and Saturday, to debate points associated to commerce and funding in addition to rising challenges, akin to synthetic intelligence and demographic modifications, based on Japan’s overseas ministry.
She plans to carry summit talks with different world leaders to alternate views on bilateral ties, it added. Takaichi, who additionally maintains a hard-line stance on China, is arranging her first summit assembly with Chinese language President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the gathering on Friday, Japan’s Kyodo Information reported Wednesday, citing authorities officers.