Foreign ministers from Japan, China, and South Korea recently met in Tokyo to discuss trilateral cooperation, seeking to find common ground in areas such as ageing populations, declining birth rates, natural disasters, and the green economy.
The meeting took place amidst growing regional tensions and international uncertainties.
At a joint news conference following the discussions, Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed a commitment to promoting mutual understanding and trust between the three nations.
He emphasised the importance of addressing shared, multi-generational challenges to strengthen trilateral cooperation.
Iwaya also expressed concern over North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile development, as well as its cooperation with Russia, considering these developments as significant threats.
He reiterated Japan's position on pursuing the complete denuclearisation of North Korea under United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Additionally, Iwaya condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, stating that there is no place in the world for unilateral attempts to alter the status quo through force — a veiled reference to China's growing assertiveness in the region.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed resuming discussions on an economic framework involving the three countries and expanding the 15-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Wang emphasised that trilateral cooperation in technology and climate change could serve as a key driving force for East Asian cooperation.
The meeting also centred on plans for a trilateral leaders' summit later this year. Despite political and economic uncertainties and challenges from U.S. policies, the three countries appeared determined to continue their collaborative efforts.
Iwaya expressed hope for accelerating efforts to hold the leaders' summit in Japan.
In a separate development, delegations from Japan and China held their first high-level economic dialogue since April 2019.
Officials from finance, economy, transportation, environment, health, and labour ministries participated in the talks, aiming to expand cooperation and strengthen communication to achieve mutually beneficial relations.
Wang acknowledged the challenges posed by the current global economic environment, including the rise of unilateralism, protectionism, and the politicisation of science and technology. His remarks appeared to be a subtle criticism of the policies of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Another notable outcome from the discussions was the progress towards lifting China's ban on Japanese seafood imports.
The ban was imposed following Japan's decision to discharge treated radioactive wastewater from the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in August 2023. Both sides agreed to continue working towards resolving this issue.
Additionally, Iwaya and South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul held a separate meeting, reaffirming their commitment to maintaining communication on bilateral issues, cooperating for North Korea's complete denuclearisation, and strengthening trilateral cooperation with the United States.
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