Abe Agrees to Aim for Japan-S. Korea Summit This Year

Tokyo, March 23 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Monday with a group of political and business heavyweights from Japan and South Korea that a bilateral summit meeting should be held this year. In their meeting in Tokyo, Abe said he hopes for honest talks at summit level without preconditions especially because the close proximity of Japan and South Korea has caused difficult problems. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and South Korea. Former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo, the group's South Korean chair, told reporters after the meeting that momentum for a summit meeting this year would be created if the two countries make efforts. According to another participant, some in the South Korean side asked for Abe's forthcoming statement for the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II to be aimed at improving the bilateral relationship. They were quoted as saying Abe should exercise his leadership from a broad perspective when making the statement. The meeting was also attended by former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, the group's Japanese chair. END