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S. Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation to continue to advance under new leaders: FM Cho
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- Trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan will continue to advance even with new administrations in Washington and Tokyo following their elections, Seoul's top diplomat said Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul made the remarks as the U.S. and Japan are set to pick their new leaders in the coming elections on Nov. 5 and Sept. 27, respectively. The three countries have bolstered their security cooperation under the current leaders following their landmark Camp David trilateral summit in August last year.
"The South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation functions as the most crucial cogwheel that operates in tandem with the South Korea-U.S. alliance," Cho said in a speech at the Trilateral Executive Dialogue (TED), a government-business dialogue platform on economy and security issues.
"I am confident that the partnership will continue to strengthen even under the leadership of new governments, as there is a widespread consensus on its significance," Cho said.
Cho called for efforts from the parliaments and business communities of the three countries to play an active role to help further advance the trilateral cooperation framework.
"I believe the role of the parliaments and businesses as the driving force of the partnership is more important than anything else. We need the active support from the businesspeople who are well aware of the importance," Cho said.
With bolstered three-way cooperation, the countries should be able to address key security issues together, like establishing reliable supply chains and fostering good environments for investment, Cho said.
"Our government will continue efforts to attract foreign investment by improving flexibility in the labor market and digital regulations, and also by enhancing the predictability of tax enforcement across various sectors," he said.
TED was launched in November last year to promote policy discussions between the government officials and businesspeople of the three countries. More than 100 people from public and private sectors attended Wednesday's event, including a U.S. delegation comprising senators.
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