South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s back-to-back visits to China and Japan suggest a “pragmatic approach” to reset ties with both countries as tensions soar between Beijing and Tokyo, analysts said.
Lee met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday during a two-day trip to Japan. Speaking to reporters after their summit in Nara – Takaichi’s hometown – Lee said there was “unprecedented turmoil” in the global political landscape and trade order.
He stressed the need for South Korea and Japan to expand cooperation at this “pivotal turning point in civilisation”.
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Lee said the two leaders shared a “common understanding” of the importance of cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the United States for regional peace and stability.
He said there was a need for South Korea and Japan to also work with China, and for the three nations “to identify as much common ground as possible to communicate and cooperate together”.
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But Takaichi did not mention China in her remarks, instead stressing the need for trilateral cooperation between Japan, South Korea and the US.
