Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE3512
2009-01-13 23:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:
KOREA-JAPAN SUMMIT MEETING
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #3512 0132337 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 132329Z JAN 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0000 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0000 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0000 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0000 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG PRIORITY 0000 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0000
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).
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
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