Minister Yu Myung-hwan will visit Japan from April 3 to 6 at the invitation of the Japanese Foreign Minister Komura Masahiko. Minister Yu will have Korea-Japan Foreign Ministers’ meeting with Minister Komura, and attend the G-8 Development Ministers’ Meeting.

During his visit, Minister Yu will accelerate the momentum to enhance substantial cooperation between Korea and Japan built by the launch of a new administration, and discuss preparation for President Lee Myung-bak’s visit to Japan slated for April 20 to 21. Also, Minister Yu will have discussions with his Japanese counterpart on matters of mutual interest including the North Korean nuclear issue, regional situation and bilateral cooperation on the international stage. In addition, Minister Yu plans to meet the President of the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations Mitarai Fujio and ask for the support of Japanese business circles’ to promote economic cooperation between the two countries.

Minister Yu will attend the G-8 Development Ministers’ Meeting and deliver a keynote speech at the first session on ways to promote cooperation between the existing donors and the emerging ones, as well as ways to improve the international development assistance system.


Prior to the G-8 Summit, which is to be held  from July 7 to 9 in Hokkaido, Japan, major development issues will be discussed at this year’s Development Ministers’ Meeting. Topics include "Expanding Partnership for Development", "Climate Change and Development", and "Humanitarian Security and the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals". Member states of the G-8 and eight emerging donor countries, including Brazil, India and Korea, will attend the Meeting. It is the first time for Korea to attend the Meeting.

[photo : Minister Yu met with Japanese Ambassador to Korea Shigeie Toshinori on March 7 in the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.]