Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano has expressed hope that President Lee Myung-bak will visit Japan this year.

Edano told South Korean Ambassador to Tokyo Kwon Chul-hyun on Tuesday that he hopes a visit to Japan by Lee this year comes to fruition. Kwon was meeting with Edano to congratulate Edano on his recent appointment to the post of chief cabinet secretary.

In response, Kwon told Edano that South Korea and Japan should work to further advance their relations this year.

The two countries have been discussing a possible visit to Tokyo by Lee since Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara visited Seoul on January 15th. During his stay, Maehara conveyed to Lee Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s wishes for the South Korean president to visit Japan.