Korea and Japan celebrated the 50th anniversary of normalization of ties between the two countries in separate events attended by each other’s leaders. In Korea, President Park Geun-hye attended an event hosted by the Japanese Embassy, while in Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended an event hosted by the Korean Embassy.

This was a low-key celebration, but at least the two leaders can say that they gave a speech at each other’s official function. It also signifies a step forward in the icy relations between the two countries, although the “joint” event appeared to have been hastily arranged.

The two leaders’ speeches reflected little change in their positions. Park focused on the need to be unburdened by history before progress can be made while Abe chose to concentrate on the 50 years since the normalization of ties and the two country’s future together in glowing terms.

“It’s important to create a mood to put down the heavy burden of history with the mind of reconciliation and coprosperity,” Park said at the Japanese Embassy reception. At the Korean Embassy reception in Japan, Abe said, “Let us build a new era for our two countries over the next 50 years.”

Scurrying to explain what Park meant by “put down the heavy burden of history,” an official later told reporters that she meant that Japan needed to take steps, and that she did not mean that the two sides should put down the burden without preconditions. Indeed, in meeting with Abe’s special envoy, Fukushiro Nukaga, Park expressed hope that Japan would uphold the previous governments’ position on history.

The exchange of speeches in the two capitals on the 50th anniversary of normalization of ties can be viewed as progress in Seoul-Tokyo relations, which have hit rock bottom over Park’s insistence on resolving the former Japanese military sex slavery issue and Abe’s repeated attempts to whitewash history, including Japanese government’s role in the system of sexual slavery during World War II. While Abe has said on several occasions that he would like to meet Park, an offer that was repeated during a meeting with Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on Monday before the reception in Tokyo, Park has not responded.

However, in a recent interview with the Washington Post, Park, who has repeatedly said that the issue of military sex slaves must be resolved before a summit can take place, said that progress was being made on the military sex slaves issue. That remark has been interpreted in various ways, including as a signal that a Park-Abe meeting may be in the offing.

Yun’s first official visit to Tokyo, where he met his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida is also seen as a sign of thaw between the two neighboring countries. In Sunday’s meeting, the two ministers agreed that there would be a summit “at an appropriate time.”

The frosty Korea-Japan relations are detrimental to both countries, whose economies are closely linked. The cooperation of the two countries is also crucial to the peace and stability of the region, particularly at a time when North Korea poses an increasing military threat.

Whether the largely symbolic “joint” celebration of the 50th anniversary of normalization of ties will lead to a greater thaw in relations still remains to be seen. The leaders of the two countries should bear in mind that for a meaningful exchange to take place, they must be willing to listen to each other, not just talk past each other.