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| Korea-Japan Economic Association Chairman Kim Yoon, front row fourth from left, poses with Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, front row fifth from left, Japan-Korea Economic Association Chairman Mikio Sasaki, front row sixth from left, and other officials of Korea and Japan applaud during an event at Lotte Hotel in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap |
By Lee Kyung-min
About 240 high-ranking government officials and business leaders of Korea and Japan shared ways to boost bilateral cooperation, Tuesday, for Korea's bid to host World Expo 2030 in Busan, according to the trade ministry.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said that the two sides discussed ways for Korea to help Japan successfully organize the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, and for Japan to help Korea win the right to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan.
The face-to-face two-day event was resumed after four years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The high-profile event in Seoul is the latest development in the recent wave of rapprochement between the two countries.
Other items on the agenda include strengthening bilateral cooperation to bolster personnel and technological exchanges in new growth-driver industries.
Korea-Japan Economic Association Chairman Kim Yoon, the organizer of the two-day meeting held in Seoul, said rapid improvement in the long-frayed bilateral ties will be most pronounced in the economic sector, as underpinned in part by restoration of high-level regular meetings and communication channels.
"Business leaders will continue efforts to lead and sustain the momentum for amicable bilateral ties and mutual growth," he said during the event at Lotte Hotel in Seoul.
Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun in his opening remarks called for more participation of business figures from the two countries.
He said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Yoon Suk Yeol share a deep understanding on the need to advance bilateral relations.
Among the joint economic cooperation initiatives are collaboration on the new growth driver industries, countering global trade challenges and fortifying trilateral relations centering on the Korea-Japan partnership to extend influence on the global stage.
The event came about a week after the Japanese prime minister visited Korea from May 7 to 8, largely in response to Yoon's visit to Japan in March when the long-troubled bilateral relations found a breakthrough.
The bilateral trade relations largely recovered after Japan included Korea on its whitelist of favored trade partners eligible for simplified export procedures.
The inclusion essentially lifted export curbs Japan put in place in July 2019 in retaliation against Korea' Supreme Court ruling ordering Japanese firms to compensate South Korean victims of wartime forced labor.
The friction sparked by the top court found a compromise after the countries agreed to establish a fund for education and cultural exchanges of young people in both countries.
Attendees of the two-day event will hold a meeting organized by the two countries' chambers of commerce and industries in Busan next month.
The business network organization will discuss ways to bolster Busan's bid to hold the 2030 Expo and establish a platform for skilled young workers of the two countries.
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