Japan's newly-elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit South
Korea around Oct. 7 and hold summit talks with South Korean
President Roh Moo-hyun, Kyodo News said Friday, quoting government
sources.
Roh agreed on Thursday to hold summit talks with Abe at an
appropriate time, the Presidential Office said.
The agreement was made while Abe telephoned Roh on Thursday
morning and pledged to repair the strained relations between the
two neighbors, Yoon Tae young, spokesman for the presidential
office, told a briefing.
"The leaders agreed to meet at an appropriate time to discuss
ways to improve Korea-Japan relations and discuss related measures
through diplomatic channels," said Yoon.
Roh stressed mutual trust and respect is vital for stable
bilateral ties between the two nations, Yoon added.
During the 15-minute telephone, Abe expressed gratitude for
Roh's congratulatory message on his election of the Japanese prime
minister earlier this week, Yoon said.
South Korea has rejected to hold summit talks with former
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi since last November due
to Koizumi's repeated visits to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine and
disputes over history issues and territory.
However, Yoon didn't give details about when and where the
summit talks will be held. Both Roh and Abe are expected to
participate in the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit
in November in Vietnam this year.
(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2006)
