Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from Participants of the Japan-ROK Next-Generation Leadership Program, at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Prime Minister said in his address,
“Annyeong-hashimnikka. Welcome everyone, and thank you for being here.
I would like to first express my heartfelt condolences on the accident that saw the sinking of the MV Sewol.
I would also like to extend my most sincere welcome to you once again for coming to Japan as participants in the Japan-ROK Next-Generation Leadership Program of the Japan-Korea and Korea-Japan Cooperation Committees in the midst of such serious circumstances.
I believe that exchange between all of you, as parliamentarians responsible for the future of the Republic of Korea (ROK), and the young parliamentarians of Japan, is extremely significant for the development of bilateral relations.
I understand that some of you have already visited Japan many times and some know Japan very well. I hope that you will again have thorough exchanges with even more people, visit many different places, and deepen your understanding of Japan.
I would like to again express my gratitude to President Shimizu, Vice-chair Nakasone, and Acting Chair Watanabe.
Japan and the ROK share basic values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights. We are also neighboring countries sharing strategic interests. The ROK is an important neighbor for Japan.
In this context, it is important to advance exchanges at a variety of levels. I view exchanges between parliamentarians in particular to be extremely important.
We face a difficult situation, and it is vital to continue dialogue. During the Japan-ROK-U.S. trilateral summit meeting that took place at The Hague some time ago, H.E. Ms. Park Geun-hye, President of the ROK, and I shared the view that Japan, the United States, and the ROK would cooperate in relation to the security situation in East Asia.
I ask for your cooperation in developing Japan-ROK relations as a future-oriented relationship.”