South Korea has urged Japan to work toward resolving historical disputes to further regional cooperation in Asia, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan of the ruling Saenuri Party, a special envoy of President Park Geun-hye, made the remarks at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos that ran through Saturday. 

Choi said the historical disputes with Japan must be resolved to establish the economic cooperation system of East Asian countries.

Choi also called for global cooperation in coping with the financial uncertainties sparked by the volatility of the Chinese economy, adding the future of Asia's No. 1 economy depends on how China makes joint efforts together with South Korea and Japan.

During the four-day event, Choi promoted South Korea's flagship creative economy policy that aims to merge different industrial sectors with information and communications technologies. The fourth industrial revolution was one of the key agenda items discussed in Davos.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with Choi, and they discussed ways to increase cooperation between the sides, including North Korea's test of an H-bomb earlier this month, the ministry added.

The remarks came as North Korea conducted what it claimed is its first successful test of an H-bomb on Jan. 6. Choi told participants of the forum that the world must take a second look at the effectiveness of existing North Korea policies. (Yonhap)