Finally, here’s a sign that someone in a position to influence Japanese-Korean relations has the right idea.

Osamu Watanabe, the chairman and CEO of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) is in South Korea leading a delegation of 90 Japanese companies looking for investment opportunities. The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency is co-sponsoring the tour.

“It’s time we focused on creating a healthy environment for mutual cooperation that can contribute to the wealth of all Asian countries,” Watanabe declared.

Showing a better diplomatic touch than the current Japanese ambassador to South Korea, Watanabe easily deflected questions about the Takeshima/Dokdo controversy.

Keeping a smile on his bespectacled face, Watanabe politely refused to comment on the current row over Dokdo, an island between the countries that both claim. ‘Business is business,’ he said firmly. But he did add that the two nations should try to build stable political relations that can in turn foster good business relations.

Here’s the full English article from the Korea Herald.