ID :
25253
Sat, 10/18/2008 - 10:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/25253
The shortlink copeid
Lee to meet Japanese PM in Beijing next week: official
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details and background from 2nd para)
By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso are planning to hold summit talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Beijing next week in their effort to mend bilateral relations strained by historical and territorial conflicts, a top aide for Lee said Saturday.
Lee and Aso, along with leaders of 43 Asian and European member states, are
scheduled to visit Beijing to attend the 7th ASEM summit, which will be held Oct.
24-25 under the theme of finding a win-win solution to pending international
issues.
"The Japanese government has recently delivered its intention to hold a summit
between Lee and Aso in Beijing next week and both sides are now fine-tuning the
detailed schedule," the presidential aide said on condition of anonymity.
Since his inauguration in February, Lee had met with Aso's predecessor, Yasuo
Fukuda, three times until early July, but the two countries' relations have since
chilled due to Japan's provocative claim to South Korean easternmost islets of
Dokdo.
The Lee-Aso meeting, if realized next week, is expected to tackle the
U.S.-originated global financial crisis and North Korean nuclear problems instead
of the diplomatically sensitive territorial issues.
"The government consented to the summit proposal from Japan out of its belief
that the protracted chill in bilateral relations is not desirable. Regardless of
the summit talks, the Korean government will continue to sternly deal with
Japanese territorial provocations," said the official.
Besides Aso, Lee also plans to hold a string of bilateral summit talks with his
counterparts from France, Poland, Denmark and Vietnam on the sidelines of the
ASEM summit, according to presidential aides.
The ASEM summit has been held every two years since 1998, with the second summit
held in Seoul in 2000. Leaders of India, Pakistan, Mongolia, the ASEAN
secretariat, Bulgaria and Romania will attend this year's ASEM summit for the
first time as new members.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso are planning to hold summit talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Beijing next week in their effort to mend bilateral relations strained by historical and territorial conflicts, a top aide for Lee said Saturday.
Lee and Aso, along with leaders of 43 Asian and European member states, are
scheduled to visit Beijing to attend the 7th ASEM summit, which will be held Oct.
24-25 under the theme of finding a win-win solution to pending international
issues.
"The Japanese government has recently delivered its intention to hold a summit
between Lee and Aso in Beijing next week and both sides are now fine-tuning the
detailed schedule," the presidential aide said on condition of anonymity.
Since his inauguration in February, Lee had met with Aso's predecessor, Yasuo
Fukuda, three times until early July, but the two countries' relations have since
chilled due to Japan's provocative claim to South Korean easternmost islets of
Dokdo.
The Lee-Aso meeting, if realized next week, is expected to tackle the
U.S.-originated global financial crisis and North Korean nuclear problems instead
of the diplomatically sensitive territorial issues.
"The government consented to the summit proposal from Japan out of its belief
that the protracted chill in bilateral relations is not desirable. Regardless of
the summit talks, the Korean government will continue to sternly deal with
Japanese territorial provocations," said the official.
Besides Aso, Lee also plans to hold a string of bilateral summit talks with his
counterparts from France, Poland, Denmark and Vietnam on the sidelines of the
ASEM summit, according to presidential aides.
The ASEM summit has been held every two years since 1998, with the second summit
held in Seoul in 2000. Leaders of India, Pakistan, Mongolia, the ASEAN
secretariat, Bulgaria and Romania will attend this year's ASEM summit for the
first time as new members.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
