Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said on Friday that China hopes to
open new prospects of cooperation with Japan and South Korea.
Good relations among the three countries are mutually
beneficial. And cooperation between China and Japan and between
China and South Korea is good for regional peace, stability and
development as well as the welfare of the peoples of the three
countries, said Li at the fourth meeting of the China, Japan and
South Korea Tripartite Committee in Philippines.
Li said that China, Japan and South Korea are countries with
great influence in East Asia, and that relations between China and
the other two countries have shown a good trend of development.
"We should grasp this good opportunity to increase political
trust of the three countries and upgrade economic and trade
cooperation level, as well as broaden the field of cooperation, in
order to open new prospects of tripartite cooperation," he
said.
Li's remarks were echoed by South Korean and Japanese officials
at the meeting, said officials of the Chinese delegation.
At a working lunch with officials from India, Australia, New
Zealand, Japan, South Korea and member countries of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday, the Chinese foreign
minister said China wants to implement the agreement reached by
leaders of these countries and China to seek cooperation in the
fields of energy, finance, education, protection against bird flu
and disaster relief in the region.
He also said China supports ASEAN in its effort to play a major
role in East Asian summit meetings and a role in promoting East
Asian regional cooperation, while keeping East Asian Summit as one
with inclusive and open characteristics.
(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2007)
