At the APEC summit in Gyeongju, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held candid discussions with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Takaichi highlighted the talks as a key achievement, while Lee expressed relief over South Korea-Japan ties.
On Nov. 1, 2025, after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit concluded in Gyeongju, South Korea, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi spoke at a press conference about her discussions with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping. She described the talks as "a valuable opportunity to share discussions with responsible leaders" and noted she had "candid discussions with the important neighboring nations of China and South Korea."
The summit between Lee and Takaichi took place on Thursday prior to the conference's end, where both agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation. Lee expressed optimism during his press conference, saying, "I had a very good feeling (about the meeting). I am no longer worried." He added that South Korea and Japan can build a mutually beneficial relationship by "squarely facing pending issues" and working "hand-in-hand" toward the future.
Takaichi's election last month had raised concerns over South Korea-Japan ties due to her hawkish stance on historical issues from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. However, Lee stated that her actions as prime minister "will be and should be" different, adding, "After meeting her in person and taking considerable time speaking with her, I found her to be a truly outstanding politician who shares the same views."
The leaders agreed to continue shuttle diplomacy through reciprocal visits. Lee suggested holding their next talks in Takaichi's hometown of Nara, to which she responded positively. At the APEC summit, Japan was also named the host for the 2031 gathering, another achievement for Takaichi. When asked about the fairness of investment deals with the United States, she replied, "It's not appropriate to compare uniformly because each country is faced with different conditions," noting that final details of the Japan-U.S. deal are yet to be announced.