President Lee Jae-myung will hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, on Nov. 19.
"Prime Minister Takaichi will visit Andong for two days from the 19th to the 20th at President Lee's invitation," Kang Yu-jung, senior spokesperson for the Presidential Office, said Saturday. The meeting comes about four months after President Lee's visit to Nara, Japan, in January this year.
The two leaders will hold a small-group summit, expanded summit, joint press announcement, and dinner on Nov. 19. A separate friendship event is also scheduled. "At this summit, the two leaders will hold wide-ranging discussions on the direction of Korea-Japan relations and strengthen practical cooperation in various fields directly related to people's livelihoods, including the economy, society, and protection of citizens," Kang said. Global issues, including the situation in the Middle East, will also be on the agenda.
"We expect that as shuttle diplomacy with Prime Minister Takaichi expands its stage from Gyeongju to Nara and now to local cities such as Andong, the strong bond and trust between the two leaders will deepen, providing an opportunity to further solidify the foundation for the future-oriented development of Korea-Japan relations," Kang said.
