China, Korea, China and Japan hold 3rd summit ‘three parties unanimous’ Japan ‘Korea-Japan summit to be held quickly’
Regarding the Korea-China-Japan trilateral summit promoted by Korea, China called for ‘unanimity among the three parties’, while Japan proposed ‘high-level talks as soon as possible’ regarding the Korea-Japan summit.
Regarding the high-level talks between Korea, China and Japan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbi said, "We unanimously believe that carrying out cooperation is in the common interests of the three parties," and added, "We must work together to strengthen practical cooperation to ensure regional peace, stability and security." “It will make a new contribution to prosperity,” he said on the 26th.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said at a press conference regarding the Korea-Japan summit that the Korean government plans to hold by the end of this year, "It is an opportunity for the three leaders of Korea and Japan, who are largely responsible for regional peace and prosperity, to discuss the ideal form of cooperation and various regional issues." “It is meaningful,” he said, adding, “We will work hard to hold it.”
Reuters briefed Minister Kamikawa in Tokyo, saying he shares the need to resume high-level talks, including a summit between the two countries, "as soon as possible," adding, "I think it is very important to discuss the various challenges facing the region."
Japanese broadcaster TBS reported on this day, “Korea is the host country for this year’s tripartite talks and has proposed a summit at the end of December.”
South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that a specific date was being discussed and that the foreign ministers of the two countries would meet "within a few months," Reuters reported.
Reuters went on to report that senior diplomats from South Korea, China and Japan agreed on the 26th that the leaders of the two countries would meet at the "soonest convenient time," South Korea's Foreign Ministry said after rare talks aimed at resuming exchanges between South Korea, the United States and Japan.
Yomiuri said South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had agreed to hold a meeting "as soon as possible at a mutually convenient time," and added, "According to South Korean officials, this summit will discuss people-to-people exchanges between the three countries, science and technology, and cooperation on security issues, including North Korea." It was reported that it is expected that “discussions will be held.”
Yomiuri went on to say that they also agreed to hold a meeting of the foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan to prepare for the summit, and that the foreign ministers' meeting is expected to be held in Busan, South Korea, in November.
Yomiuri said that in principle, the Korea-Japan summit was held regularly, but that it was postponed due to the deterioration of Korea-Japan relations under the Moon Jae-in administration and the impact of the coronavirus disaster.
The three countries agreed to hold a summit every year starting in 2019 to promote regional cooperation, but it was canceled due to discord between Korea and China and the coronavirus pandemic.
Tong Zhao, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said of the three-party talks, “China plans to respond to the United States’ friendly cooperation strategy, promote people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen communication and dialogue with Seoul and Tokyo on security and defense issues. “Japan and South Korea are interested in avoiding conflict and maintaining a stable security relationship with China, and China’s support is needed to slow, if not stop, North Korea’s extensive nuclear development program.” do. “These common interests open new avenues for strategic communication, trust building and crisis prevention measures,” he told Reuters.
Reuters reported that the Chinese premier has traditionally attended the trilateral summit, and South Korea is pushing for a separate visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Attending the trilateral meeting in Seoul were South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Jeong Byeong-won, Japanese Senior Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi, and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Nong Rong.