SEOUL/BEIJING (Bernama-Kyodo): China on Monday called for stable ties with Japan, while South Korea expressed hope for continued positive relations a day after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation.
In a statement to Kyodo News, the Chinese Foreign Ministry voiced hope that "Japan will make efforts with China to fully promote a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship … and constructive, stable bilateral ties” that meet the requirements of the new era.
The South Korean presidential office said in a separate statement, "Since both South Korea and Japan share a broad consensus on pursuing future-oriented and stable relations, (the government) expects that the two countries will be able to continue fostering positive ties even after Prime Minister Ishiba’s departure.”
Both governments said they are closely monitoring developments after Ishiba announced his resignation amid calls for him to take responsibility for the ruling coalition’s loss of its upper house majority in July.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited Japan in late August to meet Ishiba as part of regular reciprocal visits by the two nations’ leaders, known as shuttle diplomacy.
The two leaders pledged to maintain momentum in bilateral cooperation during their second meeting since Lee took office in June.
Ishiba told an unscheduled press conference on Sunday that he was responsible for the Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition losing its majority in the House of Councillors.
He added that his resignation was intended to avoid a "decisive split” within the party over whether to hold an early leadership race. - Bernama-Kyodo
