Presidential hopeful Lee Myung-bak met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday afternoon in Tokyo to seek cooperation in establishing forward-looking bilateral relations.

The former Seoul Mayor told reporters that he asked Abe to take a more progressive attitude toward Korea and other parts of Asia in order to resolve three major issues: Japan’s militaristic past, its territorial claim over Dokdo Island, and visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.

Lee quoted Abe as saying that Japan should become more open and that bilateral cooperation should be expanded in culture and politics as well as economy.

Their thirty-minute meeting took place behind closed doors at the Japanese prime minister's official residence.

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