President Yoon Suk Yeol (right) on May 11 hosts a dinner with former Japanese Prime Minister Aso Taro at the official residence of the president in Seoul.

President Yoon Suk Yeol on May 11 asked former Japanese Prime Minister Aso Taro's continued attention to support the bilateral relations' further development.

Presidential spokesperson Lee Do Woon in a news briefing said President Yoon hosted a dinner that evening for the visiting former Japanese leader, who was attending the Seoul-Tokyo Forum, at the official residence of the president in Seoul.

At the dinner, President Yoon praised former Prime Minister Aso for playing a big role in the recent improvement of Korea-Japan ties, saying, "For further development of bilateral ties amid the recent atmosphere of improved relations as shown by the resumption of shuttle diplomacy between the leaders of both nations, I request your continued interest."

On bilateral human exchange, President Yoon said, "Korea and Japan must make joint efforts to promote brisk exchange among the future generation of both countries."

"With former Prime Minister Aso heading a bilateral cooperation committee that serves as a window for private exchange, I ask the committee to take the lead in conducting projects to raise friendly cooperation between the two nations."

In response, former Prime Minister Aso Taro said, "I salute the president for the determination and leadership he showed in the recent process of improving bilateral ties," adding, "Thanks to President Yoon's efforts, bilateral relations have entered a completely different phase in less than a year."

He also expressed sympathy for the need to expand bilateral exchange between the future generation and pledged to play an active role in this.

President Yoon Suk Yeol (right) on September 21, 2022, shakes hands with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at their bilateral summit held at the Korean permanent mission to the United Nations in New York.

Meanwhile, President Yoon on May 21 will host a bilateral summit in Seoul with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Spokesperson Lee on May 11 said in a news release that the talks are scheduled during the chancellor's official visit to Korea after he attends the Group of 7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

Chancellor Scholz will be the first German head of state in 30 years to make an official visit to Korea for a bilateral summit since Helmut Kohl in 1993.

"The visit to Korea comes in a meaningful year marking the 140th anniversary of exchange between Korea and Germany," the spokesperson said. "This visit to Korea is expected to offer a good opportunity to bolster cooperation in economic security with Germany, a longstanding ally sharing universal values, and deepen solidarity and collaboration to respond to regional and global issues."

The chancellor's schedule includes a visit to the Demilitarized Zone and summit with President Yoon. President Yoon will also host a dinner with First Lady Kim Keon Hee for the German Chancellor Scholz and his spouse Britta Ernst.

korea.net