Kishida expresses gratitude to Yoon, urges continued cooperation
By AJPPosted : September 9, 2024, 11:10Updated : September 9, 2024, 11:10
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (left) shaking hands with Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in the Presidential Office in Yongsan, central Seoul on Sept. 6, 2024. Yonhap
SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - Japan's outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida thanked Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for his hospitality during his final visit to Korea as premier, urging continued efforts to develop bilateral relations.
Kishida, who is set to step down later this month, made the remarks on his social media platform X on Saturday, following his two-day visit to Korea.
"I sincerely thank President Yoon and First Lady Kim," Kishida wrote. "I hope you will continue to work towards further developing Japan-Korea relations."
This photo shows Japan's Fumio Kishida thanking Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for his hospitality during his final visit to Korea as premier on X(formerly Twitter), Sept. 7, 2024. Captured from Fumio Kishida's official X account
The Japanese leader reminisced about his three visits to Korea and Yoon's two trips to Japan during their tenures, highlighting a dinner in Tokyo's Ginza district as a "pleasant memory."
Kishida emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation with Korea, describing it as a "crucial neighbor" in the face of shifting international dynamics. He noted that 2025 will mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
"When I took office as prime minister, relations with Korea were in a very difficult state, but through decisive action by President Yoon and myself, we were able to achieve a historic improvement in Japan-Korea relations," Kishida said, adding that he has now held 12 meetings with Yoon since reviving shuttle diplomacy.
