Lee, Japan's Ishiba set for summit talks in Busan

SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung is set to hold summit talks with outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the southeastern city of Busan on Tuesday, in what would be the first visit by a Japanese leader to a location other than Seoul in more than two decades.

Ishiba will make a two-day visit as a reciprocal trip following Lee's visit to Japan last month, in a move marking the restoration of "shuttle diplomacy" between the two nations.

It will be their third meeting after talks on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada in June and Lee's visit to Tokyo in August.

During the last summit, Lee suggested holding their next meeting in South Korea outside of Seoul.

Ishiba's trip will be his first to South Korea since taking office in October last year and the first visit by a Japanese prime minister to a South Korean city other than Seoul in 21 years.

The agenda will include shared challenges, such as demographic changes and regional revitalization, along with future-oriented cooperation in areas like artificial intelligence and hydrogen energy, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Monday.

Although trade is not on the official agenda, the leaders are expected to exchange views as Japan has recently signed a trade deal with the United States, while South Korea is negotiating details of its own framework agreement reached in July.

The visit is expected to be Ishiba's final one to South Korea as prime minister as he announced his resignation earlier this month.

ejkim@yna.co.kr
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