Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol will hold a summit meeting in Seoul on Friday. They are expected to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, including national security.
Kishida’s two-day trip will start Friday. It is part of the top-level “shuttle diplomacy” between the two nations, which resumed last year for the first time in 12 years.
The trip comes before the two countries mark the 60th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic ties next year.
Kishida will likely mention the improving trend in bilateral relations against the background of confidence building with Yoon. The outgoing Japanese leader is also expected to reiterate that Japan’s policy of placing importance on ties with South Korea will remain unshaken under the new administration.
Kishida and Yoon are likely to reaffirm expanding cooperation in such areas as security, the economy and human exchanges to build stronger bilateral relations.
On Saturday, Kishida is scheduled to meet with students of Seoul National University and others to exchange views on the bilateral partnership and other issues.