South Korean President Lee Jay-Myung is hoping that the talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will lay a foundation for closer cooperation between their countries. Lee emphasized that South Korea and Japan share a unique relationship shaped by geography and history. The summit also marked a significant gesture, with Ishiba praising the choice of venue outside Seoul. “I think it is wonderful that our two countries can find common interests and promote cooperation in a difficult environment, supported by active people-to-people exchanges, as symbolized by the Korean envoys,” Shigeru Ishiba, Japanese Prime Minister added. The two-day visit was Ishiba’s first to a South Korean City outside Seoul in 21 years and comes shortly after his resignation as prime minister following his party’s election loss.