Seoul, 27 May 2024 (TDI): Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized the need to effectively manage delicate matters and disagreements among China, Japan, and South Korea.
He also stressed the need to prioritize and protect each other’s fundamental interests and significant concerns and called for China-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation.
Li expressed his comments during a press conference held alongside the leaders of South Korea and Japan, concluding the ninth Trilateral Summit Meeting including China, Japan, and South Korea.
Additionally, Li expressed his comments in Seoul during the ninth Trilateral Summit Meeting including China, Japan, and the ROK.
In honor of the China-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation mechanism’s 25th anniversary, Li underlined the significance of upholding the original objectives of cooperation and the values of inclusivity, openness, mutual respect, and trust in addition to mutual benefit and learning.
Furthermore, He suggested that the three countries should work together more closely, speed up their cooperation, usher in a new age of comprehensive advancement, and contribute more to the stability and well-being of the area.
Li put up a five-point strategy to improve China, Japan, and South Korea’s cooperation. The main goal is to proactively promote the full restoration of cooperation while respecting and honoring each other’s core values and important issues.
Furthermore, it is critical to make the most of the unrealized potential for cooperation, guarantee a steady and forward-moving advancement, and promote a positive interaction between trilateral cooperation and bilateral relations.
The second goal is to accelerate the resumption and conclusion of negotiations for the China-Japan-ROK free trade agreement, as well as to strengthen economic and trade integration and guarantee the stability and effectiveness of the industry and supply chains.
The third goal is to promote cooperative innovation in cutting-edge fields and to lead the way in scientific and technical innovation partnerships.
Within its boundaries, China intends to establish the China-Japan-ROK Innovation Cooperation Centre. This center’s mission is to help the three countries accelerate the creation of new avenues for economic expansion.
The fourth goal is to strengthen interpersonal and cultural ties between the three surrounding nations by taking advantage of the China-Japan-ROK 2025–2026 Year of Cultural Exchange.
The fifth goal is to actively seek to advance sustainable development through improving partnerships and collaboration in areas including epidemic response, aging populations, low-carbon transition, and climate change.
Furthermore, further research and implementation of cooperative projects will be undertaken under the “China-Japan-ROK + X” framework.
On the Korean Peninsula, Li brought attention to the persistent condition of hostility that exists there. It is of the utmost importance that all parties involved make a concerted effort to contribute to the resolution of tensions.
This can be accomplished by committing to reduce hostilities, commencing discussions promptly, and making more progress in the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue. If we want to maintain peace and stability in the region, this is something that needs to be done.
Moreover, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) should make use of their respective strengths in terms of growth to establish a new catalyst for regional collaboration that proactively caters to the requirements of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other nations in the vicinity.
To advance the growth of the ASEAN Plus Three partnership, he proposed that the three countries work together.
According to Li, China is willing to work with Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to aggressively promote the creation of a global society that has a shared future for all people. The global community’s and the region’s long-term stability and security are the shared goals of this partnership.
President Yoon of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Prime Minister Kishida of Japan emphasized the importance of the three countries’ restored cooperation after a four-year break, and they advocated the maintenance of stability and continuity in their cooperation.
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They also stated that more cooperation was required in six important areas: public health, research and technology, sustainable development, trade and economy, and disaster relief.
Lastly, to promote the steady expansion of China-Japan-ROK ties, they also called for steps to revive talks on the free trade agreement between China and the three countries, encourage regional cooperation in East Asia, and address global issues like climate change.
