Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (second from left), now vice president of his country's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, arrives on the afternoon of Nov. 2 at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport. (Yonhap News)

By Kang Gahui

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 2 stressed to visiting former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, now vice president of his country's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the need to stimulate bilateral human exchanges.

Their closed-door meeting was held at the Office of the President in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Lee Jae-myoung in a written media briefing said the chief executive spoke in the afternoon with the former Japanese leader, whose visit was made in his capacity as chair of the Japan-Korea Cooperation Committee.

 
As a partner of the Korea-Japan Cooperation Committee, the Japan-Korea committee, comprised of senior leaders from all walks of life, was established in 1969 based on the need for a private dialogue channel between both countries after they established diplomatic ties.

In the meeting, President Yoon complimented the Japan-Korea committee's role and urged assistance to invigorate human exchanges for advancing bilateral relations.

Former Prime Minister Aso said both countries must continue dialogue and cooperation and pledged to keep striving to quickly restore and develop bilateral ties.

kgh89@korea.kr