President Lee Myung-bak had a telephone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso Monday (Feb. 23), who announced Japan''s participation in the 2012 Yeosu Expo.

Japan is the second country after Saudi Arabia to announce its participation, out of the 152 Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) members, Cheong Wa Dae said.

Other than the Yeosu event, the two leaders touched upon several bilateral issues during the 10-minute call, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

Prime Minister Aso said he would emphasize, during his visit to Washington, close collaboration between Korea, the United States and Japan in dealing with such international issues as the global financial crisis and the North Korean nuclear problem.

Aso also said he would discuss with U.S. President Obama a vocational and agricultural assistance project in Afghanistan, to be jointly offered by Korea and Japan. Lee added that Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who had recently visited Cheong Wa Dae, had expressed satisfaction about this joint aid project.

Lee expressed his hope that the Japanese Prime Minister could have in-depth discussions regarding mutual concerns with the U.S. President.

Lee and Aso welcomed the inauguration ceremony of the two countries'' joint research project, which took place in Tokyo the same day. The project, which was agreed upon by Lee and Aso during the latter''s visit to Seoul last month, will delve into three academic fields: Korea-Japan relations; international politics; and the international economy.
 

As to the suggested Korea-Japan summit, Aso said he looked forward to inviting Lee to Japan at an early date, and Lee said he would make haste in the preparations.