Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on June 19 at New Otani Hotel Tokyo delivers a congratulatory speech at a reception to mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Korea-Japan ties hosted by the Korean Embassy in Tokyo. (Yonhap News)

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova

Events in both Korea and Japan are marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of official relations between both countries.

The Korean Embassy in Tokyo on June 19 hosted a reception marking this milestone at New Otani Hotel Tokyo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in a congratulatory speech at the event, "Both Korea and Japan have seen multiple stages in relations, but also a wide range of constant and steady exchanges," adding, "Our 60 years of ties have been sustained by the people of both countries."

"As the strategic circumstances surrounding our two nations grow more severe, let us join hands and move toward a better future."

"The 60 years of Korea-Japan relations constitute a history of growth, results and success," Ambassador to Japan Park Cheol-hee said. "We should never stop efforts to further advance our friendly ties and make them sustainable."

Approximately 1,000 figures from both countries attended the reception including the prime minister; Ambassador Park; Korea-Japan Parliamentarians Union Chairman Joo Ho-young, who is also deputy speaker of the Korean National Assembly; and former Japanese prime ministers Yoshihide Suga (now the head of the Japan-Korea Friendship Association Federation) and Fumio Kishida.

Earlier on June 16, the Japanese Embassy in Seoul hosted a similar reception at Lotte Hotel Seoul in the city's Jung-gu District.

At this event, President Lee Jae Myung said in a video message, "Exchanges and cooperation of both Korea and Japan have developed explosively in diverse sectors," calling both countries are "important partners."

"I hope that bilateral ties continue to steadily develop in a future-oriented manner," he added. "We should join hands and move together toward a better future together."

aisylu@korea.kr