Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday he wants to make concerted efforts with President Park Geun-hye for improved relations between the two countries.

"I would like to improve and develop ties toward the next half-a-century, together with President Park, for the people of both nations and the next generation," he said in a meeting with visiting Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se at his official residence.

Abe's remark came as the Northeast Asian neighbors marked the 50th anniversary of normalizing their diplomatic relations.

Abe added it's important for the two sides to talk frankly about various pending issues and problems.

In return, Park also sent a message via the South Korean foreign minister on her hopes to resolve pending issues between the two countries and bolster Seoul-Tokyo ties down the road.

"I hope that this will be the first year for which bilateral relations start anew," Park's message said.

Yun presented Abe with a picture of his late father, Shintaro Abe, who was a former Japanese foreign minister, and the prime minister replied, "Thank you," in Korean.

Later in the day, Abe plans to attend an anniversary reception hosted by the South Korean Embassy here and deliver a congratulatory message.

In Seoul, Park is also scheduled to join a corresponding event organized by the Japanese Embassy. (Yonhap)