Japan and South Korea vow to strengthen bilateral ties

Ishiba and Lee issue a joint statement vowing further bilateral consultations on shared issues like low birth rates, rural revitalisation and enhanced disaster prevention steps

- 

Japan's outgoing prime minister and his South Korean counterpart underscored the need to strengthen cooperation between their nations, as US President Donald Trump's transactional approach to allies and trade wars are bringing the often-feuding Asian neighbours closer.

Tuesday's meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan is their third and likely final summit.

Earlier this month, Ishiba offered to resign over his ruling coalition's recent election defeat, triggering a contest to find his successor.

"I hope that (South) Korea and Japan can grow closer emotionally, economically, socioculturally, and in terms of security, just as they are in physical distance," Lee said at the start of the meeting.

Ishiba said that it was "deeply meaningful" to conclude his diplomatic activities as prime minister with a summit with Lee. "By sharing each other's wisdom and experience, we can strengthen relations between our two countries while addressing our common challenges," Ishiba said through a translator.