Johannesburg: President Lee Jae Myung held separate talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in South Africa, reaffirming his commitment to deepening cooperation with the neighboring countries, his office said Sunday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, in the meeting with Takaichi in Johannesburg, the two leaders underscored the importance of bilateral relations and the need for "future-oriented" cooperation as Seoul and Tokyo aim to enhance collaboration amidst economic and geopolitical uncertainties. Lee emphasized the role of politicians in managing stable relations and expressed hope for further development in areas where bilateral cooperation is possible.

Both leaders agreed to continue their reciprocal visits, known as "shuttle diplomacy," and to communicate closely on a wide range of issues, including the economy and security. Their meeting followed a prior encounter less than a month ago at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.

In his meeting with Chinese Premier Li, Lee assessed that his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC summit had fully restored bilateral ties, which had been strained due to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's focus on strengthening ties with the United States and Japan. Lee advocated for cooperation that would substantively support the livelihoods of people in both nations.

Premier Li praised Xi's recent visit to Korea as "successful" and expressed hope for enhancing "mutually beneficial" cooperation with South Korea, emphasizing the development of bilateral relations from a "long-term" perspective. Lee conveyed his regards to Xi through Li and expressed his expectation to meet Xi in Beijing at an early date.

Meanwhile, South Korea, China, and Japan have reportedly held consultations to arrange their first trilateral summit since May 2024. However, the outlook for trilateral engagement remains uncertain due to a diplomatic row between Tokyo and Beijing over Takaichi's recent remarks on Taiwan.