Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held her first in-person talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on the sidelines of a regional summit Thursday evening, with the two leaders agreeing on the importance of boosting ties amid the current strategic environment.

Takaichi, who was attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit, met with Lee in the southeastern South Korean city of Gyeongju, offering praise for her counterpart following their talks.

¡°He gave me a very warm welcome. We had a very enjoyable exchange of views,¡± Takaichi told reporters. The meeting, initially scheduled for 20 minutes, was extended to more than double that, at 45 minutes.

Ahead of the meeting, the Japanese prime minister, who took office just last week, had played down concerns that her administration could take a harder-line view toward Seoul than her predecessor.

On Thursday, she said that while ¡°pending issues¡± that she did not identify remained, the two countries would continue to work to improve ties. The two leaders avoided direct reference to historical disputes.

Lee said that South Korea and Japan are ¡°neighbors who share the same front yard¡± and sometimes ¡°get emotionally hurt like family,¡± presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung was quoted as saying.

Takaichi largely echoed this sentiment.

¡°The president and I agreed that, while differing perspectives on various pending issues exist, because we are neighbors, we must manage these properly through our leadership,¡± she said, adding that the two would ¡°develop the bilateral relationship in a future-oriented and stable manner.¡±

¡°We also agreed to actively implement ¡®shuttle diplomacy¡¯ going forward, and I believe the next meeting will be hosted in Japan,¡± Takaichi said.

Shuttle diplomacy refers to frequent mutual visits by the two countries¡¯ leaders.

While Takaichi¡¯s predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, had put a premium on the two countries¡¯ relationship following a thaw in ties that had soured over historical issues linked to Japan¡¯s 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, Takaichi had stoked unease for controversial views on wartime history and the disputed Takeshima islets.

Lee pointed to the many common challenges both at home and abroad that Tokyo and Seoul face, stressing the importance of cooperation.

¡°By sharing experiences and working together, I believe we can successfully address not only domestic issues but also international ones,¡± he was quoted as saying.

Takaichi and Lee also exchanged gifts, with the South Korea president giving the Japanese leader Korean cosmetics and seasoned dried seaweed, after Takaichi expressed her personal ¡°love¡± of Korean beauty products and seaweed, which she mentioned during her inaugural news conference.

In return, Takaichi gifted Lee with a set of go stones and bowls made in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture ¡ª a sister city of Lee¡¯s hometown, Andong ¡ª...