SEOUL: South Korean Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun expressed his willingness to conclude a digital trade pact with Japan in a recent interview with Jiji Press.

Ahn said that he wants to produce tangible results such as bilateral pacts on digital trade, energy and supply chains that will strengthen ties between his country and Japan.

He also expressed hope to hold his first talks with Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto at an early date.

A digital trade pact would stipulate cooperation and rules for the development of cross-border e-commerce. South Korea already has such pacts with countries including Singapore.

Meanwhile, Ahn said there is plenty of room for South Korea-Japan cooperation in the semiconductor sector, showing hope that Japanese companies will join a new industrial complex that the administration of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is developing in the Seoul suburb of Yongin, with investments from major South Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc.

Ahn said that the Yongin complex is one of the largest such projects in the world, and that cooperation from Japanese companies with strengths in chip materials, parts and manufacturing equipment is crucial. He noted that Japanese companies can bring many benefits to the complex, which could also be a major production base for Japan.

Ahn said the current situation between South Korea and Japan is very desirable as bilateral relations have improved since the inauguration of the Yoon administration, with Japanese investment in South Korea expanding to a record high.

Cooperation with Japan in technology, key materials and parts has played a very important role in South Korea’s industrial development, he pointed out.

Ahn voiced his eagerness to seize opportunities to further develop bilateral ties next year, the 60th year since the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea, when the western Japan city of Osaka will host the World Exposition and South Korea will chair a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

JIJI Press