ID :
33382
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 00:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/33382
The shortlink copeid
Lee urges closer financial cooperation with Japan
By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Monday called
for closer cooperation between South Korea and Japan in overcoming the global
financial crisis during his meeting with former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro
Nakasone and other Japanese political leaders in Seoul.
Nakasone is in Seoul as head of a 24-member Japanese delegation to an annual
conference on South Korea-Japan cooperation.
"All countries worldwide are undergoing serious economic difficulties due to the
global financial crisis. At a time like this, (South) Korea and Japan have to
further deepen their cooperation and policy coordination," said Lee at the
meeting.
Referring to a tripartite summit of South Korea, Japan and China slated for Dec.
13-14 in Japan's Fukuoka, the president also said, "At the upcoming three-way
summit, Korea, Japan and China will have an opportunity to display a united front
on (the financial crisis)."
"Closer three-way cooperation will be helpful to the three countries and offer an
opportunity to expand the global influence of Northeast Asia. Cooperation among
the three countries is very critical at this time."
The Fukuoka summit is to bring together Lee, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao for discussions over the financial crisis,
denuclearization of North Korea and other pending regional issues.
South Korea, faced with a weakening won and declining foreign exchange reserves,
has long sought to expand its foreign currency swap lines with Japan and China.
"The bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan have been turbulent thus
far. Japan has been dubbed a close but distant neighbor to Korea. But the
relations should now be changed to 'close and close' neighbors," said President
Lee.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Monday called
for closer cooperation between South Korea and Japan in overcoming the global
financial crisis during his meeting with former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro
Nakasone and other Japanese political leaders in Seoul.
Nakasone is in Seoul as head of a 24-member Japanese delegation to an annual
conference on South Korea-Japan cooperation.
"All countries worldwide are undergoing serious economic difficulties due to the
global financial crisis. At a time like this, (South) Korea and Japan have to
further deepen their cooperation and policy coordination," said Lee at the
meeting.
Referring to a tripartite summit of South Korea, Japan and China slated for Dec.
13-14 in Japan's Fukuoka, the president also said, "At the upcoming three-way
summit, Korea, Japan and China will have an opportunity to display a united front
on (the financial crisis)."
"Closer three-way cooperation will be helpful to the three countries and offer an
opportunity to expand the global influence of Northeast Asia. Cooperation among
the three countries is very critical at this time."
The Fukuoka summit is to bring together Lee, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao for discussions over the financial crisis,
denuclearization of North Korea and other pending regional issues.
South Korea, faced with a weakening won and declining foreign exchange reserves,
has long sought to expand its foreign currency swap lines with Japan and China.
"The bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan have been turbulent thus
far. Japan has been dubbed a close but distant neighbor to Korea. But the
relations should now be changed to 'close and close' neighbors," said President
Lee.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)