Seoul, Aug 20
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Wednesday relations with Japan are "very important" with many opportunities for mutual cooperation.
Kim made the remarks during a meeting with Japanese delegates visiting Seoul to attend the Korea-Japan Forum, as President Lee Jae Myung was set to visit Tokyo later this week for summit talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, News Agency reported.
"With the launch of the new administration, South Korea and Japan are moving forward on a future-oriented path," Kim said. "The two countries have a very important relationship with many areas of mutual cooperation, and the president's decision to visit Japan was made in that context."
The Japanese delegates expressed Tokyo's commitment to continue efforts in building "a more mature, robust and future-oriented" bilateral relationship.
The delegation included former Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Yasumasa Nagamine, acting chair of the forum, and Japanese lawmakers.
The Korea-Japan Forum is an annual forum launched in 1993 to promote high-level talks between the two countries.