KOREA-JAPAN SUMMIT MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 003512 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019 TAGS: ECON EFIN ENRG ETRD PGOV PREL JA KN KS SUBJECT: KOREA-JAPAN SUMMIT MEETING Classified By: EAP/K Director, Kurt Tong for Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Republic of Korea (ROK) President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Taro Aso met in Seoul from January 11-12. The following is an official read-out of the meeting provided by the ROK Embassy to Washington. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The ROK Embassy provided the English translation of the summit read-out. ROK Poloff informed the Korea Desk that Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone plans to travel to Seoul in mid-February to meet with his ROK counterpart Yu Myung-hwan, continuing the "Shuttle Diplomacy" between Japan and the ROK. Also, at the conclusion of ths ummit, President Lee reportedly requested that PM Aso return to Seoul before the end of 2009. Both leaders expressed a desire to meet with the U.S. in a trilateral setting to discuss the North Korea nuclear issue, as well as the future of the Six-Party Talks, after the new U.S. administartion is established. President Lee said that after a trilateral meeting, further talks should be expanded to include China to continue planning engagement with North Korea. Lee warned that the North Korean Government will try to dive a wedge between the Six-Party Partners, so careful cooperation is necessary. Also, President Lee expressed that Japan and Korea should hold working-level meetings to discuss joint efforts on Afghanistan. ¶3. (C) Begin text: A. Significance and Evaluation President Lee Myung-bak held a summit with Prime Minister Taro Aso of Japan on January 12 when Aso paid an official working visit to Korean from January 11-12. At the summit, President Lee welcomed Prime Minister Aso,s first official visit to the ROK and Prime Minister Aso thanked Lee for his warm hospitality. It was Prime Minister Aso,s first bilateral summit in a foreign capital since taking office in September last year. Both President Lee and Prime Minister Aso shared the view that the summit meetings, including the previous two summits, have contributed to building personal trust and served as an opportunity to further promote friendly and cooperative ties between the two nations. The two Leaders agreed to work together to further increase bilateral relations toward fulfilling a future-oriented and mature partnership between the ROK and Japan. This includes strengthening substantive economic cooperation, dealing with financial crisis, expanding cultural and personal exchanges and cooperating in the fields of science and technology. The two leaders had amicable and in-depth exchanges of views and formed a broad, common understanding on regional and global issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister Aso reaffirmed his strong support for President Lee,s &Denuclearization, Openness and 3008 initiative. President Lee expressed his understanding and support for Japan,s policy on Japanese abductees from the humanitarian perspective. The two leaders reaffirmed their will for a peaceful resolution of the North Korea nuclear issue through the Six-Party Talks, and committed to making utmost efforts for prompt implementation of the Joint Statement of September 19, 2005. To meet challenges of the global financial crisis, President Lee explained the ROK,s role as a co-chair of the G-20 nations from this year and expressed his desire to work closely with Japan in the preparation for the second G-20 financial summit in order to produce tangible results. ¶B. Detailed Outcomes President Lee Myung-bak met with Prime Minister Aso Taro on January 12 and discussed future prospects of the Korea-Japan bilateral relationship, and improve economic cooperation, cultural and youth exchange, and ways to improve regional and international cooperation. The new Leaders agreed to establish a relationship, with a correct understanding of past history in mind, based on: a mutually beneficial economic cooperation; a shared understanding cultivated through expanded exchanges in various sectors; and a cooperative effort in the international arena. (Shuttle Diplomacy) Prime Minister Aso asked President Lee to visit Japan at a mutually convenient time this year and President Lee accepted the invitation with gratitude. (Substantive Economic Cooperation) To further the mutually beneficial and cooperative relations between the two countries, the two Leaders shared view on the expansion of Japanese investment and technology cooperation in Korea,s parts and materials industry. The two Leaders also agreed to further strengthen dialogues and cooperation between small and medium businesses, for instance the establishment of a &Korea-Japan Small and Medium Enterprises CEO Forum.8 In addition, the two Leaders agreed to hold pre-negotiations for concluding a &Korea-Japan Nuclear Energy Cooperation Agreement.8 Furthermore, the two Leaders, recognizing that a successful &Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea8 will enhance not only economic cooperation between Korea and Japan, but also prosperity and development in North-east Asia, pledged to actively cooperate in this regard. (Personal and Cultural Exchange) The two Leaders welcomed the expansion of personal exchange between Korea and Japan, which has reached more than five million people last year. Through programs such as expanded &the Working Holiday Visa Program8 and &The Korea-Japan University Student Exchange Project,8 the Leaders agreed to continue their united efforts for successful exchanges between the young generations of the two countries. Furthermore, the two Leaders welcomed Korea,s initiative to sponsor a &Korea-Japan Culture Festival8 in the second half of this year in Tokyo and pledged to closely cooperate for the success of this event. (New Era Joint Research Project) The two Leaders welcomed the official launch of &the Korea-Japan New Era Joint Research Project8 early this year, in which experts from two countries in various fields, including international relations and economy, will jointly study the vision of desirable future bilateral relations. (Cooperation on Regional and International levels) The two Leaders agreed to closely cooperate at the Second G-20 Financial Summit to produce tangible results, and shared the view that both Korea and Japan need to implement the economic stimulus package for the sustainable economic development in Asia. Prime Minister Aso pledged to actively support Korea,s efforts to join &the Financial Stability Forum.8 Furthermore, the two Leaders agreed to start a dialogue between the relevant government officials for a joint cooperation project on Afghanistan, which was agreed on during the Korea-Japan Summit Meeting, held on the sidelines of the Korea-China-Japan Summit in December. RICE