South Korean Foreign Minister meets with Koizumi, a leading candidate for Japan's next prime minister

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Koizumi Shinjiro, who served as Japan's Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006.
He is the son of Junichiro Koizumi, who served as a minister of state, and is a leading candidate for the next prime minister from the Liberal Democratic Party. The meeting between the heads of the different ministries and agencies is interpreted as being aimed at maintaining high-level communication between Japan and South Korea.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 11th that Minister Cho met with Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Koizumi for around 30 minutes that afternoon and exchanged views on Japan-Korea relations in general and economic cooperation plans.
Minister Cho stated, "In order to develop Japan-Korea relations in a more future-oriented manner as we mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, more active communication at all levels is necessary."
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi expressed his support for the need to discuss the future-oriented development of Japan-Korea relations with greater interest at all levels, and said, "I hope that concrete discussions will take place on cooperation plans between the two countries in various fields."
They also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest in the economic field, and mentioned the need for close communication between the two countries on issues of common interest and concern.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi visited South Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting on Food Security and the Japan-China-South Korea Agriculture Ministerial Meeting.
He also met with South Korea's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Miryong and China's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Jun.