South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and his wife Kim Yoon-ok arrive in Tokyo, capital of Japan. Lee Myung-bak is on his first visit to Japan.[Photo: Xinhua]

South Korean President Lee Myung Bak arrived in Tokyo Sunday for a two-day visit during which he will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. 

According to Japanese foreign ministry officials, Lee and Fukuda would talk about a wide range of issues including counter-measures against the global warming and situation on the Korean Peninsula, and are expected to express common wishes for closer bilateral ties and communications in political, economic and cultural fields. 

Lee is also scheduled to meet with Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, attend a luncheon prepared for him by Japan's business field, take part in a forum with Japanese people in the afternoon, and attend a dinner party hosted by Fukuda, Kyodo News reported. 

Lee came to Japan via the United States for the second and last stop in his first overseas tour after taking office in February. The visit to Japan is also the first by a South Korean president since Roh Moo Hyun's visit in December 2004. 

Japanese officials said Lee's tour will help resume the bilateral top-level "shuttle diplomacy," which was agreed by Japan and South Korea in late 2004, but was suspended due to Japanese former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the war-related Yasukuni Shrine. 

Lee and Fukuda agreed to continue the "shuttle diplomacy" based on reciprocal visits during Fukuda's visit to South Korea for Lee's inauguration ceremony in February.