President Lee meets Japan's parliamentary delegates in Tokyo

President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians’ League, at a hotel in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday. Joint Press Corps

TOKYO — President Lee Jae Myung met with delegates from the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League and Japan’s Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) on Sunday morning, as part of his two-day visit to Tokyo.

According to the presidential office, the meetings focused on discussing how to enhance bilateral cooperation across economic, industrial and cultural sectors.

“The President emphasized that when South Korea and Japan work together, both countries can generate greater shared benefits,” said presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung in a written statement.

Both sides repeatedly emphasized the importance of forward-looking, mutually beneficial cooperation and the role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening political ties between the two nations.

Kang further explained that President Lee expressed his pleasure at having another opportunity to meet with former Prime Minister Suga, who chairs the Korea-Japan parliamentary union, praising the league's active role in advancing bilateral relations. Lee also briefed the delegates on his summit and dinner with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba the previous day.

"In response, Suga and other parliamentary league members evaluated that the Korea-Japan summit was successful. They also welcomed Lee’s visit, noting it marked his first bilateral overseas trip, and Suga reportedly joked that he wanted to keep a record of how often he meets President Lee, drawing laughter from attendees," Kang noted.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks with Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, at a hotel in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday. Joint Press Corps

President Lee also met with CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda and other members of the party, highlighting the importance of close communication and collaboration between the two neighboring countries in a rapidly changing global environment.

The discussions acknowledged the need to grow people-to-people exchanges and strengthen mutual understanding and goodwill, and emphasized the need for sustained dialogue and cooperation not only through government channels but also via parliamentary diplomacy.

Lee’s meetings in Tokyo come in the wake of his summit with Prime Minister Ishiba, reflecting ongoing efforts to solidify a robust and mature bilateral relationship between South Korea and Japan.