ID :
40006
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 11:52
Auther :

Japanese PM due in Seoul for talks

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Jan. 11 (Yonhap) -- The Japanese prime minister was due to meet South
Korea's president in Seoul later Sunday for talks widely expected to focus on
efforts to overcome difficulties that face both countries, including North
Korea's nuclear ambition and the ongoing economic downturn, Seoul's presidential
office said.
President Lee Myung-bak was to host a special meeting and dinner Sunday for
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and about 15 Japanese businesspeople
accompanying him, the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, said.
"Prime Minister Taro Aso's visit to Korea will be the first in which he is
accompanied by Japan's key business figures. A special meeting will be held for
them and South Korea's business figures, providing an important opportunity to
expand economic cooperation between the two countries," Cheong Wa Dae said in a
press release.
The businesspeople accompanying Taro include the chairmen of Canon, Fujio
Mitarai, and the vice chairman of Japan's largest carmaker Toyota, Cho Fujio, it
said.
The summit between Lee and Aso will be held Monday.
The Lee-Aso meeting, the fifth of its kind, comes amid the worldwide economic
slump that has strongly impacted two of Asia's largest economies.
"President Lee and Prime Minister Aso will exchange views on a wide range of
issues, such as ways to maintain and develop Korea-Japan relations and boost
substantial cooperation in the economic sector, including financial markets,"
Cheong Wa Dae said earlier.
Since the financial crisis hit the region late last year, Seoul and Tokyo have
expanded the ceiling of their foreign currency credit swap lines to US$30 billion
to help ease any short-term liquidity shortages in their countries. They are also
seeking to set up a multi-billion dollar emergency fund along with other nations
like China.
An official at Cheong Wa Dae said earlier the two leaders may also discuss
forging a free trade agreement (FTA). Diplomats from the two sides have held
several rounds of preliminary discussions on an FTA, but such talks have so far
stalled due to failure to make any significant progress.
Other agenda items for the summit include launching a joint development
assistance program in Afghanistan and increasing the countries' cooperation in
other international issues, such as the continued dispute over North Korea's
nuclear program, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted the Japanese side also
wants to discuss issues related to fishing in waters between the two countries,
an issue apparently linked to Japan's long but groundless claim to the South
Korean islets of Dokdo in the East Sea.
Seoul has refused to put the issue on the table and has denounced Japan's plans
to conduct underwater research in the East Sea in April, a move seen as an
attempt to lay claim to the South Korean islets.
South Korea's presidents and Japan's prime ministers have frequently met for
"shuttle diplomacy," but such meetings have frequently been postponed or
cancelled due to Japan's attempts to claim the islets.
President Lee has often been criticized by the country's liberal forces for not
cancelling or delaying meetings with Japanese leaders when Japan makes renewed
claims to Dokdo or new attempts to distort or fabricate the countries' shared
history.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)

X