Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun on July 24 speaks on the phone with his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun on July 24 held his first phone conversation with his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya and discussed bilateral ties and regional affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted Minister Cho as saying in the 20-minute call, "Korea-Japan relations and trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S. and Japan are the central axes of not only the Korea-U.S. alliance but also our government's practical diplomacy."

"Let's work together to form more solid, mature and future-oriented relations based on the mutual perception of friendliness between the people of both countries."

Minister Iwaya congratulated his Korean counterpart on the latter's appointment, adding, "To mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral ties, we hope to continue close cooperation for the stable development of diplomatic relations and reinforcement of trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S. and Japan."

The two sides also agreed on the need for stronger bilateral cooperation in a range of sectors and closer communication through shuttle diplomacy not just between their heads of state but also ministers.

aisylu@korea.kr