Joint Statement by President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan Following a Summit Meeting (June 07, 2003)
2003-06-10
To Build a Foundation for Korea-Japan Cooperation in an
Age of Peace and Prosperity in Northeast Asia
As state guests of Japan, President Roh Moo-hyun and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea paid a state visit to Japan from June 6-9, 2003. During his stay, President Roh Moo-hyun held a summit meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan.
In accordance with the spirit of the Joint Declaration on a New ROK-Japan Partnership for the 21st Century issued in October 1998, the two leaders shared the recognition that Korea and Japan should see the past history as it really was and on the basis of it march together for the development of future-oriented bilateral relations in the 21st century.
The two leaders renewed their common determination to steadily deepen trust and friendship between the two countries and elevate bilateral relations to a higher dimension while maintaining the keynote of Korea-Japan friendship and goodwill that was achieved through the successful cohosting of the FIFA World Cup and the Year of Korea-Japan People-to-People Exchanges in 2002.
1. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi supported the Korean Government's Policy of Peace and Prosperity aimed at bringing about permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula and coprosperity in the Northeast Asian region while President Roh Moo-hyun supported the Japanese Government's basic guidelines to resolve matters of concern for Japan, including the nuclear and missile programs as well as the kidnap cases, based on the Pyongyang Declaration between Japan and North Korea and to realize Japan-North Korea rapprochement conducive to peace and stability in the Northeast Asian region.
2. The two leaders shared the recognition that North Korea's nuclear programs constitute a serious threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia in addition to the international nuclear non-proliferation system.
(A) In the light of this, the two leaders agreed that they would not tolerate any nuclear development program in North Korea, not to mention possession of nuclear weapons, and that they should solve this problem through diplomacy and in a peaceful manner.
(B) To help solve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully, the two leaders strongly urged the North not to take any more action to aggravate the situation. In this connection, the two leaders reaffirmed the principles agreed to in the Korea-U.S. summit and Japan-U.S. summit held on May 14 and May 23 respectively and decided to continue to strengthen Korea-Japan coordination.
(C) The two leaders also emphasized that the North Korean nuclear program should be dismantled in a verifiable and irreversible manner.
(D) The two leaders expressed confidence that the North Korean nuclear issue would be resolved in a peaceful manner and confirmed that Korea, Japan and the United States would continue to closely coordinate and cooperate with the international community, including China, Russia and other pertinent countries, to this end. Also, the two leaders stressed the fact that the international community would be able to extend extensive support to North Korea when the North Korean nuclear and other pending issues are solved peacefully and comprehensively and when the North becomes a responsible member of the international community.
(E) The two leaders also shared the recognition that the U.S.-North Korea-China talks held in Beijing from April 23-25 served as a useful first step in the dialogue for solving the North Korean nuclear issue and welcomed the role of China in the dialogue.
(F) The two leaders shared the view that in order to solve the North Korean nuclear issue, a follow-up meeting should be held at an early date to maintain the momentum of the dialogue, and they expressed high expectations for a multi-party dialogue process which would be participated in by, among other countries, Korea and Japan and which would be conducive to comprehensively solving various issues involving North Korea.
3. The two leaders agreed to continue to cooperate closely in all fields to pioneer an Age of Peace and Prosperity in Northeast Asia based on the shared ideas of freedom, democracy and a market economy and to develop together a bright and affluent future.
(A) The conclusion of a Korea-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would have a profound significance in that it would promote bilateral trade and investment and strengthen competitiveness, contributing to economic growth in East Asia and the world while promoting economic collaboration in the region. In light of this, the two leaders took note of the fact that a consensus is being formed in the Korea-Japan Joint Research Committee on the need to conclude a comprehensive bilateral FTA and expressed expectations that the committee would reap good results. Taking this into account, Korea and Japan will work toward opening negotiations on the FTA. At the same time, the two countries will step up efforts to create favorable conditions for pushing the Korea-Japan FTA.
(B) It is desirable for the two countries to expand trade for the development of cooperative economic relations as partners and, in this context, the two sides recognize the importance of industrial cooperation. Also, as the Korea-Japan Investment Treaty takes effect, the two sides expect that cross investments will expand and will work together to accelerate the expansion.
(C) Under the shared recognition that maintenance and strengthening of the world free trade system is contributing to regional and global prosperity, the two leaders will cooperate in the WTO Doha Development Agenda and other trade negotiations.
(D) At the national level and in international organizations dealing with global issues and within the framework of forums for regional cooperation, Korea and Japan will continue to collaborate actively to cope with various cross-border problems involving international terrorism, piracy, trafficking in narcotics and stimulant drugs as well as state-sponsored breaches of the law and international organized crimes.
4. The two leaders confirmed that the basis for strong, future-oriented Korea-Japan cooperation is deep mutual understanding and warm friendship among citizens of all walks of life especially young people, the pillar of the next generation, as well as dynamic people-to-people and cultural exchanges and, at the same time, in an effort to expand and reinforce this, the two leaders agreed to maintain and further develop traditional cooperative ties, working together in the following areas in particular.
(A) Promotion of Mutual Understanding and Friendship Between Citizens of the Two Countries from All Walks of Life
(1) In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the normalization of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations, the two countries will designate 2005 as Korea-Japan Festa 2005 and hold joint cultural, academic and other programs as a means of promoting mutual understanding and friendship between citizens of the two countries representing all walks of life, especially young people, who will carry on the tasks of the next generation in Korea-Japan relations.
(2) The two countries will revitalize the Korea-Japan Joint Project for the Future and gradually increase the ceiling on the number of young people and athletes to be exchanged, which is now set at 10,000 a year. In this context, the high school exchange program between Korea and Japan will be expanded from 2005.
(3) The two countries will support the Korea-Japan Forum and help accelerate other exchanges of an intellectual nature.
(4) The two countries will expedite exchanges of next-generation leaders in all fields, including politics, the economy, culture and academic affairs.
(B) Promotion of Korea and Japan as One Sphere for Daily Activities
(1) Korea and Japan will strive harder to extend visa exemptions to Korean travelers visiting Japan. As a fresh step to this end, Japan will deliberate exempting visas for Korean students entering Japan on field trips and resumption of visa exemptions for Korean citizens for a specified length of time.
(2) The two countries will expedite inauguration of the Gimpo-Haneda flight at an early date.
(C) Expansion of Exchanges Between Korea and Japan
(1) To revitalize cultural exchanges, Korea will open its market wider for Japanese popular culture.
(2) To expand tourism and other exchanges, the two countries will establish closer cooperative ties in campaigning to attract foreign tourists.
(3) The two countries will strive for the early conclusion of a Social Security Agreement and an Agreement on Mutual Customs Support, for which negotiations are now progressing. In the area of cooperation for mutual recognition of industrial standards, the two countries will accelerate the work required for launching negotiations, taking the progress of the specialists as well as developments of the Korea-Japan Joint FTA Research Committee into consideration.
(4) The two countries will hold Korea Week and Japan Week in the other country as a means of promoting exchanges between different regions of the two nations.
(5) The two countries will exert sustained efforts to support exchanges by teachers and athletes and give instruction in the Korean and Japanese languages in accordance with the Korea-Japan New Century Exchange Project.
(6) In the area of cultural assets, the two countries will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, actively rejuvenating exchanges of cultural figures as well as tangible and intangible cultural assets.
5. The two leaders agreed to examine the progress of the implementation of this Joint Statement through future talks of the Foreign Ministers and in other bilateral meetings.
Source : www.president.go.kr
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