Takaichi says she will firmly discuss energy cooperation with President Lee

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[Financial News, Tokyo = Correspondent Seo Hye-jin] Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi departed Tokyo on a government aircraft via Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) on the morning of the 19th for a two-day visit to South Korea.
According to Kyodo News and Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), Takaichi met reporters before departure and said, "I hope to have thorough discussions with President Lee Jae Myung and produce results on cooperation between our governments and on a more forward-looking direction for Japan-South Korea relations amid the current severe international situation and strategic environment, including the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region."
She added, "I also want to firmly discuss specific ways to cooperate on energy."
Takaichi is scheduled to hold a summit with President Lee in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Lee's hometown, this afternoon.
The visit is part of shuttle diplomacy, serving as a return visit after Lee traveled to Nara Prefecture, Takaichi's hometown, in January.
This will be the third official bilateral meeting between the two leaders, following their talks at the Gyeongju Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in October last year and again in January.
NHK reported that the two countries are expected to agree on a government-level document at today's summit to strengthen energy security.
The document is expected to include measures such as mutual supply of petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel, in times of crisis, avoiding unnecessary export restrictions, and cooperation in crude oil procurement to help secure Japan's energy stability.
The two sides are also reviewing a plan to strengthen regional oil reserves through Power Asia, Takaichi's funding initiative for Asian countries announced earlier.
To put this cooperation into practice, the two countries are coordinating to launch a Japan-Korea Export Control Policy Dialogue.
sjmary@fnnews.com Seo Hye-jin Reporter