Koizumi presses Seoul to lift fishery curbs, meets S. Korea, China counterparts
South Korea has been suspending imports of fishery products from Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Chiba prefectures following the 2011 meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan.
In his 30-minute meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Seoul, Koizumi stressed the safety of Japanese fishery products and called for an early removal of the restrictions.
"Many (South Korean) tourists visiting Japan are enjoying safe and delicious Japanese food. Confidence in Japanese food has recovered sufficiently," Koizumi told reporters.
The meeting between Koizumi and Cho, the first between a Japanese agriculture minister and a South Korean foreign minister, came amid a recent improvement in relations between the two countries.
Koizumi said that realizing the meeting "may be a sign of South Korea's intention to develop Japan-South Korea relations." He added, "If we proceed based on scientific grounds, we will gain understanding," expressing hope for an early removal of the South Korean restrictions on Japanese fishery products.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is expected to visit Japan late this month to meet with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Koizumi separately held a three-way meeting with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts, Han Jun and Song Mi-ryung, in Incheon near Seoul — the first such meeting in seven years.
The three ministers agreed to strengthen collaboration for the sustainable and sound development of livestock production against the spread of transboundary animal diseases, according to their joint statement.
They stressed the need to boost food self-sufficiency and strengthen reserve systems amid rising threats to food supplies, and agreed to consult as necessary in times of crisis.
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