SEOUL, Jan 9 – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit Japan next week and hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in her home prefecture of Nara, their governments said Friday.
Lee’s two-day stay from next Tuesday in the western Japan prefecture comes at the invitation of Takaichi, according to the South Korean presidential office, as part of leader-level reciprocal visits dubbed “shuttle diplomacy” by the two nations to maintain the momentum of improved bilateral ties.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a regular press conference in Tokyo that the two nations’ bilateral ties as well as trilateral collaborations involving their common ally, the United States, have become more important in the current strategic environment.
The top Japanese government spokesman said he expects Lee’s trip to be an opportunity to develop Tokyo-Seoul ties “in a future-oriented and stable manner.”
Japan and South Korea have maintained good relations in recent years after recovering from their lowest point in decades due to wartime history and territorial issues. Lee last visited Japan in August.
Kihara also said that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit for three days from next Thursday to hold the first official in-person talks between the leaders since Takaichi became Japanese prime minister in October.
