President Lee calls for improved relations with Japan

president-Japan


SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak urged on Tuesday
joint efforts by Korea and Japan to improve their bilateral relations and
increased exchanges in the political and cultural sectors.

The call came in a meeting with a group of five Japanese legislators on a visit
here for the annual meeting of a joint parliamentary committee on Korea-Japan
cooperation. The group included Hideo Watanabe, a member of the House of
Councilors.
"President Lee said exchanges between the countries' young leaders from various
sectors, including the political circle, is especially important for developing
ties," Lee's office said in a press release.
Lee noted next year will be especially significant for Korea-Japan relations, as
it marks the 100th anniversary of the start of Japan's colonial rule of Korea
that ended at the end of World War II in 1945.
"We must all work to turn next year into a chance to leap forward in our
bilateral relationship," the president was quoted as saying.
Lee has invited Japanese monarch Akihito to visit South Korea in 2010 to mark the
beginning of a new relationship between their countries. The Japanese emperor has
yet to respond to the invitation.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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