Japan, China, S. Korea Leaders Vow Stronger Cooperation

Seoul, May 27 (Jiji Press)--Leaders of Japan, China and South Korea on Monday adopted a joint declaration vowing stronger cooperation between the three nations in areas including economics and personnel exchanges.

The joint declaration was adopted at a meeting held on the day at the Blue House's state guesthouse in Seoul among Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The previous summit of the three East Asian nations was back in December 2019.

At Monday's meeting, the ninth of its kind, the leaders agreed to hold talks on a regular basis.

In their joint declaration, the leaders vowed that their countries will work together in six areas, including climate change, and science and technology, as well as cooperate in tackling their common issue of a declining birthrate and aging population.

On North Korea's nuclear and missile development, the three leaders in the declaration said, "We reaffirmed that maintaining peace, stability and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia serves our common interest and is our common responsibility."

The three "reiterated positions" on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the declaration also said.

At a joint press conference held with Li and Yoon, Kishida said that he gained the understanding of the Chinese and South Korean leaders when he asked for support to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang decades ago.

Yoon stressed the need to pursue North Korea's denuclearization.

Li at the meeting said that the Korean Peninsula's peace and stability must be maintained.

The joint declaration also said Japan, China and South Korea will continue discussions to accelerate talks on a trilateral free trade agreement, with the aim of "realizing a free, fair, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial FTA with its own value."

The three leaders agreed to call the two years from 2025 the period for cultural exchanges.

They also agreed to expand their cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

END