Prime Minister Shinzo Abe showed his intention Sunday to seek to improve Japan's soured relations with China and South Korea as he began a trip to Southeast Asia, where he will attend a series of meetings of Asia-Pacific leaders.
Abe also told reporters before his departure that he will encourage other leaders to make final efforts toward concluding within the year a trans-Pacific free trade agreement, despite the absence of U.S. President Barack Obama, who had canceled the trip because of the government shutdown in Washington."I want to exchange views" with South Korean President Park Geun Hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping "if circumstances permit," Abe said at Kansai International Airport before leaving for Bali, Indonesia, where the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is scheduled on Monday and Tuesday.
He also said, "If Japan maintains stable friendly ties with China and South Korea, then it will benefit the region as a whole very much," and that he will keep sending a message to the neighbors that "doors for dialogue are open."
There is no publicized schedule, though, for Abe to meet with the Chinese and South Korean presidents in Bali and also in Brunei, which Abe will later visit for other meetings. Some Japanese officials say Japan's efforts to that end have so far failed to bear fruit.
Source: NewsOnJapan
He also said, "If Japan maintains stable friendly ties with China and South Korea, then it will benefit the region as a whole very much," and that he will keep sending a message to the neighbors that "doors for dialogue are open."
There is no publicized schedule, though, for Abe to meet with the Chinese and South Korean presidents in Bali and also in Brunei, which Abe will later visit for other meetings. Some Japanese officials say Japan's efforts to that end have so far failed to bear fruit.
Source: NewsOnJapan
