SEOUL – Chinese Li Qiang put forward five proposals to deepen the trilateral cooperation among China, Japan and South Korea.
He was speaking at the ninth Trilateral Summit Meeting in Seoul on Monday and it was attended by South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Following are the five proposals laid forth by the Chinese premier:
First, fully resume China-Japan-ROK cooperation. The three countries need to respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, fully unleash cooperation potential, nurture new cooperation and make our bilateral relations and trilateral cooperation mutually reinforcing.
Second, deepen economic and trade connectivity. The three countries need to keep industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded, and restart and complete negotiations on a China-Japan-ROK FTA as soon as possible.
Third, champion cooperation in technology innovation. The three countries need to strengthen collaborative innovation, and cooperation in frontier areas. China will establish a “China-Japan-ROK Innovation Cooperation Center” in China to support the three countries in accelerating the cultivation of new innovation drivers.
Fourth, forge closer bonds for people-to-people and cultural exchange. The three countries need to seize the opportunity of the China-Japan-ROK Year of Cultural Exchange to promote heart-to-heart amity as close neighbors.
Fifth, advance sustainable development. The three countries need to step up exchange and cooperation on low-carbon transition, climate change, ageing societies and response to epidemics, and explore and develop more China-Japan-ROK+X Cooperation projects.
Li Qiang noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the trilateral cooperation mechanism between China, Japan and the ROK.
“Standing at a new starting point, China, Japan and the ROK need to firmly stand by the shared commitment that brought about this mechanism of cooperation, and uphold openness, inclusiveness, mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual learning,” he marked.
The three countries need to build on past achievements, and regalvanize and accelerate the trilateral cooperation to embark on a new journey of all-round development and make greater contributions to regional prosperity and stability, the premier said.
Li Qiang said that amid continued tensions on the Korean Peninsula, all parties need to play a constructive role, stay committed to easing tensions, work for early resumption of dialogue, push forward the process for a political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue and uphold regional peace and stability.
China, Japan and the ROK need to make good use of our respective development advantages, actively respond to the need of ASEAN countries and other countries in the region, and create new engines of regional cooperation. We need to work together to boost the momentum of the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) cooperation. China stands ready to work with the ROK and Japan to actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and jointly safeguard enduring peace and stability in the region and beyond.
The leaders of the South Korea and Japan said that the resumption of the trilateral cooperation among the ROK, Japan and China after more than four years is highly meaningful. It is hoped that the three countries will take this trilateral summit meeting as a new starting point to maintain the steadiness and continuity of the cooperation, deepen cooperation in six major areas, namely culture and people-to-people exchanges, sustainable development, economy and trade, public health, science and technology, and disaster relief, resume the trilateral FTA negotiations, jointly promote East Asian cooperation, jointly tackle climate change and other global issues, and promote the steady growth of the relations between the ROK, Japan and China to deliver more benefits for our peoples and make greater contribution to world peace and prosperity.
After the meeting, the leaders of the three countries jointly met the press.
Li Qiang noted that in face of new challenges and new opportunities, China-Japan-ROK cooperation needs to demonstrate new sense of responsibility and commitment. “China stands ready to take the summit meeting as an opportunity to work with the ROK and Japan to promote steady and sustained trilateral cooperation”.
The three sides issued the Joint Declaration of the Ninth China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit, the Joint Statement on a 10 Year Vision for Trilateral IP Cooperation, and the Joint Statement on Future Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.
They agreed to deliver on the Trilateral Cooperation Vision for the Next Decade adopted at the eighth Trilateral Summit Meeting, set up mechanisms for the trilateral cooperation, maintain close communication and cooperation under APT and other multilateral frameworks, and jointly uphold peace, stability and prosperity of the world. The three sides agreed to designate 2025-2026 the China-Japan-ROK Year of Cultural Exchange.
