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S. Korea, Japan agree on closer cooperation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-11 14:41

SEOUL -- South Korea and Japan agreed on Wednesday to have closer cooperations against financial crisis and join efforts in international security issues.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone (R) shakes hands with his South Korean counterpart Yu Myung-hwan before their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul February 11, 2009.

Following a meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and his Japanese counterpart Hirofumi Nakasone Wednesday morning, Yu said the two countries would have close coordination in financial issues and will cooperate at the upcoming G20 financial summit set for April in London to bring out measures to revive the global economy.

The two sides also agreed to carry out joint projects in Afghanistan, including vocational training, bean seed development, and invitation of Afghan trainees.

"South Korea and Japan will send their own experts to the South Korea-Afghan Vocational Training Center to educate Afghan vocational training instructors," said a press release by the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

Yu and Nakasone appealed that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) not take operations that might escalate tension in the region.

Nakasone said Japan backs South Korea's policy towards the DPRK and will cooperate with the United States and South Korea to resolve the nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula within the framework of six-party talks.  

The two sides also agreed to extend a joint government scholarship program for 1,000 South Korean students to study science and engineering in Japanese universities for the coming 10 years.

Nakasone arrived here on Tuesday and will return to Tokyo late Wednesday. It is his first trip to Seoul since taking office in September last year.