Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from members of the Japan-Korea Business Conference, at the Prime Minister's Office.
The Prime Minister said in his address,
“Annyeong-hashimnikka. Welcome everyone, and thank you for coming.
I would like to first express my heartfelt condolences and sympathies on the tragic accident that saw the sinking of the MV Sewol last month.
I would also like to extend my most sincere gratitude and welcome to you for coming to Japan to attend the 46th Japan-Korea Business Conference in the midst of such serious circumstances.
I would like to express my respect and gratitude to all the members of the Korea-Japan Economic Association and the Japan-Korea Economic Association for your devotion to developing bilateral economic relations over the years.
I believe that, to date, we have been able to build up a win-win relationship, whereby the growth of the ROK is a plus for Japan, and the growth of Japan is a plus for the ROK as well.
Difficult issues exist between Japan and the ROK. Nevertheless, Mr. Nukaga, Chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians’ Union, who is here today, has extended his cooperation for conducting parliamentary exchanges between our two countries. In addition, we have also received the cooperation of everyone else on a variety of exchanges at the economic, cultural, and personal level. I therefore hope that our countries will develop ever closer relations.
When it comes to Japan-ROK relations, I believe that it is extremely important for us to continue to work together toward a future-oriented relationship.
I would like to close my remarks by requesting your continued cooperation for the further deepening and development of economic relations between our two countries.”