This year is a special one for Japan and South Korea. Not only does the World Cup kick off in two months' time, but 2002 has also been designated the "Year of People-to-People Exchange Between Japan and the Republic of Korea." The governments of both countries have high hopes that the successful cohosting of the World Cup, a tournament with Olympic-level popularity, will boost cooperative bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited South Korea for three days from Thursday to confirm cooperation between the two countries in making the World Cup a success and to consolidate a closer bilateral relationship. Rather than simply revel in a fleeting festive spirit over the World Cup, the two nations are stepping up efforts to solidify a firm base for the establishment of stable relations in the future.
In their summit talks on Friday, Mr. Koizumi and President Kim Dae Jung emphasized a "future-oriented relationship." It was Mr. Kim who started the summit with a reference to the importance of future-oriented bilateral cooperation: The two nations must learn from their past experiences. On the basis of such lessons, the two countries must promote future-oriented cooperation, the president said.