Japanese lawmakers call continued shuttle diplomacy 'truly excellent'

President Lee Jae Myung meets with Takeda Ryota, chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union, at Cheong Wa Dae on Friday. [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung meets with Takeda Ryota, chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union, at Cheong Wa Dae on Friday. [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he hopes South Korea and Japan can move beyond being described as "close yet distant" neighbors and become "close and even closer" partners, as he met with members of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union at Cheong Wa Dae.

Lee greeted the delegation — led by union chairman Takeda Ryota and vice chairman Maehara Seiji — noting that they were the first foreign guests he had received as president.

"International relations have become increasingly complex and fluid of late, and I believe that improving Korea-Japan ties at a time like this will benefit both countries," Lee said. He added that exchanges among ordinary citizens and summits between leaders were both important, but that cooperation between the Korea-Japan and Japan-Korea parliamentary unions was equally vital.

Lee said he hoped inter-parliamentary exchanges would grow more active and that he looked forward to hearing the chairman's ideas on advancing the bilateral relationship. "Welcome," he said, marking the occasion of Friday's visit.

Takeda welcomed Lee's remarks, saying it was "truly excellent" that shuttle diplomacy between the two countries was continuing.

He noted that shuttle diplomacy conducted in the hometowns of both leaders represented "a new role model," and cited a Japanese newspaper report indicating that mutual trust between Japan and South Korea had each surpassed 70 percent.

"The Japan-Korea relationship is in a very good place," Takeda said. "We must work to ensure this is not a one-time phenomenon but something that endures."

Takeda also referenced remarks by Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, who recently told a gathering of Japanese business leaders that the Korea-Japan relationship was not a matter of choice but a "must." Takeda said that with AI and semiconductors underpinning the global economy, technology cooperation between the two countries was "an inseparable bond."

Turning to security, Takeda said both nations were "geopolitically surrounded by nuclear-armed states" when it came to Northeast Asian security. "At a time when the global order is unstable, what Japan and South Korea must do is unite as 'middle powers' and help stabilize that order," he said.

Lee nodded in agreement as Takeda spoke.

Takeda closed by expressing hope that the two sides would continue to deepen their friendly ties through ongoing exchanges.


moone@heraldcorp.com