President of South Korea Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed the differences between two countries but agreed to improve their relations that have soured due to trade dispute in July, 2019 and World War II compensations for the labour.
Both leaders met after one year for about 45 minutes in Chinese city of Chengdu on the side-lines of China-Korea-Japan, trilateral meeting.
Moon said Japan and South Korea are historically, geographically and culturally the closest neighbour and can’t live two apart even if there’s some difference. Moon called on Abe to withdraw all of Tokyo’s export curbs against Korea and should improve ties after worst period of tensions between the two countries in last one year.
Abe asked Korea to initiate steps to restore ties between two nations. He said South Korea should take responsibilities and come up with measures that would resolve WWII labour issue. He reminded the issue was settled under a 1965 treaty and the Korean court ruling for compensation last year violated international law.
Abe said at a press conference that leaders of Japan-Korea-China have presented a united front and he wanted to build a new era among three kingdoms to solve the world issues. Three countries did $728 billions of trade in 2018 and agreed to start free trade under RCEP by the end of next year.
Prime Minister of China Li Keqiang said trilateral meeting was very successful. Li said the current world is undergoing great changes, and called on the three countries to enhance cooperation for regional and global peace and stability. He said we must work together for openness and tolerance, maintain the mutual respect and fairness and justice.