Japan Press Weekly

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2025 March 19 - 25 [JCP]

Shii speaks at talks with South Korean foreign minister

Japanese Communist Party Central Committee Chair Shii Kazuo, as an advisor to the Japan-South Korea Parliamentarians’ Union, on March 22 in Tokyo participated in talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul who is visiting Japan to attend the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and presented his opinion at the talks.

Shii welcomed Cho’s visit to Japan, and stated that the “trilateral” framework has significance for peacebuilding in Northeast Asia and that he is pleased to see this framework being reinvigorated.

Shii said that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, stating that it is important for Japan to maintain the essence of and act in accordance with the 1995 Murayama Statement which expressed “deep remorse” for Japan’s past “colonial rule and aggression,” the 1993 Kono Statement which made an official apology regarding the wartime “comfort women” issue, and the 1998 Japan-ROK Partnership Declaration.

After the Union-Cho talks, Shii on his X account posted that cooperation with ASEAN countries is important as it provides a multilateral framework to work to build true peace in East Asia. He also posted that diplomatic efforts are essential to further develop the ASEAN-plus-Eight or the East Asia Summit (EAS) in order to establish a war-free East Asia.

Shii in the same X post expressed his determination as a member of the Union to be committed to further developing the friendship between the two countries.