LEAD) S. Korea, Japan, China agree to seek joint community, denuclearization of North

((ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead paras with outcome of three-way summit; UPDATES
throughout)
By Byun Duk-kun
BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- The leaders of South Korea, China and Japan agreed
in a summit Saturday to boost ties between their countries in addressing regional
and international issues, such as North Korea's nuclear program and global
warming.

In a joint statement issued at the end of their three-way summit, the leaders
vowed efforts to peacefully denuclearize the North through dialogue.
"We will remain committed to dialogue and consultation and continue to work
through peaceful means to pursue the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,"
the statement said. The tripartite talks involved South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak, Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
The leaders said that a multilateral framework is the most effective in resolving
the nuclear standoff and agreed to work for a resumption of the negotiations at
an early date.
"We will make joint efforts with other parties for an early resumption of the
six-party talks, so as to safeguard peace and stability in Northeast Asia, and
thereby to build an Asia of peace, harmony, openness and prosperity," it said.
North Korea quit the nuclear talks in April following U.N. condemnation of its
launch of a long-range rocket, but the North's leader, Kim Jong-il, this week
told the Chinese premier that his country may rejoin the negotiations depending
on outcome of anticipated bilateral talks with the U.S.
The South Korean president said in a joint press conference Friday after his
bilateral summit with Hatoyama in Seoul that he was convinced the North will soon
return to the negotiating table.
"A mood is being formed in the international community that there is no other way
for North Korea but to come back to the negotiating table," Lee said.
The leaders of South Korea, Japan and China sought to boost their cooperation in
other areas as well, saying it will contribute to peace and stability not only in
the region but throughout the world.
"We will push the trilateral relations forward in the direction of
good-neighborliness, mutual trust, comprehensive cooperation, mutual benefit and
common development," said the joint statement, which marked the 10-year
anniversary of the tripartite talks that originally began as a sub-gathering of
an annual regional forum hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN).
"We are convinced that this will contribute to world peace, stability and
prosperity," it added.
Lee said joint efforts by the three countries have had a "great impact" on the
world in his opening remarks, while the Japanese prime minister said his country
will work to build relationships with the two Asian neighbors that are as strong
as its alliance with the United States.
"I believe the Japan-U.S. alliance is important, but I also believe Japan, as an
Asian nation, must build a policy that places more importance on Asia," Hatoyama
said at the beginning of the three-way summit.
The leaders agreed to reinforce their cooperation in regional and international
meetings, such as ASEAN and the G-20 economic summit, they said will help promote
their mutual interests in the international community and eventually lead to the
building of a joint community in their region.
"We will make full use of the high complementarities and great potential of the
three economies and bring to higher levels our cooperation in key areas such as
business, trade, finance, investment, logistics, intellectual property, customs,
information, science and technology, energy conservation, environmental
protection and circular economy," the statement said.
The leaders also sought joint efforts to fight climate change as they reaffirmed
their "shared vision and responsibility for creating a peaceful, prosperous and
sustainable future for the region and international community" in a separate
statement on sustainable development.
They said the countries will work together "to contribute to the successful
achievement of the Copenhagen Conference, including the establishment of an
effective post-2012 international cooperation framework on climate change."
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)