Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda called Friday for dialogue between Japan and South Korea to improve soured relations mainly over history-related issues.
"We must overcome the bad image proliferating among the people of both countries and deepen mutual understanding," Fukuda said at a joint meeting of the two countries' bilateral cooperation committees in Seoul.
"Calm and restrained responses are called for, and so it is important to promote dialogue," he said, adding the proposed East Asian community cannot be realized unless Japan, South Korea and China share mutual understanding and have close relations.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sent a message to the meeting, saying he hopes to advance Japan-South Korea ties with a future orientation and work on overcoming outstanding issues as well as seek common interests between the two sides.