After arriving in Seoul on Friday for a two-day visit, the outgoing Japanese leader will hold talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon and Kishida are expected to "review their bilateral cooperation, assess achievements, and discuss future directions to strengthen regional and global stability."
It will be Kishida's 12th meeting with Yoon and their last summit, as Kishida has announced his departure, giving up his bid for another term as prime minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after three years in office.
The two neighboring countries, which have recently sought to mend ties through restored shuttle diplomacy, are expected to discuss various topics to enhance bilateral cooperation during the summit.
One of the agendas for the upcoming summit includes an agreement to assist each other in emergencies in third countries for evacuation, according to the Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun. This follows their reciprocal cooperation in similar situations in Israel and Sudan last year.
As part of friendly gestures to mark the 60th anniversary of normalizing diplomatic relations with Korea next year, Japan is also reportedly considering implementing expedited immigration procedures for Korean tourists such as pre-clearance options, which would streamline the entry process and shorten wait times at airports.
