China, Japan, ROK to uphold peace, stability in NE Asia

 

China.org.cn, May 10, 2012

China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have maintained close communication on the situation in Northeast Asia and made earnest endeavor to uphold peace and stability in the region, a whitepaper on cooperation among the three powers says.

According to the China-Japan-ROK Cooperation (1999-2012) whitepaper released by Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, the three countries have maintained close communication on the situation in Northeast Asia.

"China, Japan and the ROK have...carried out close cooperation with other parties to push forward the Six-Party Talks process," the paper says.

Being important members of East Asia, China, Japan and the ROK have maintained good cooperation in the ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum and other regional cooperation mechanisms, the paper says.?

(L-R) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, then Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak shake hands at their joint news conference in Tokyo May 22, 2011. [File photo]

The three countries have provided strong support for ASEAN Community building and ASEAN's leading role in East Asia cooperation, and made earnest endeavor to facilitate the development of East Asia Free Trade Area and East Asian economic integration, and promote peace, stability and prosperity in East Asia.

Regional security issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula, are expected to be a topic for discussion at that the Fifth Trilateral Summit Meeting among the three countries to be held in Beijing next week. China, the host of the Six-Party Talks aimed at denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, will play host to this year's summit in rotation.

The China-Japan-ROK summit is ramified from the ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Summit. After more than ten years of development, the three countries have further enhanced communication and coordination in regional and international affairs, according to the paper.?

The three countries have strengthened strategic dialogue, conducted policy consultations and broadened non-traditional security cooperation in recent years, according to the paper.

The paper says that the Trilateral Policy Dialogue on Asian Affairs initiated by China have discussed regional and international hotspot issues.

Noting that such dialogues have helped enhance understanding and build up mutual trust, the paper says the three countries will "continue to explore ways for enhancing communication and cooperation in Asian affairs".

The paper says that the three countries have also conducted counter-terrorism consultation, adding they will have "in-depth exchange of views" on the general situation and major issues of counter-terrorism in the region and around the globe and on their respective counter-terrorism policies.

Cooperation and exchanges among counterpart departments and experts are undergoing for advancing "substantive" trilateral cooperation, safeguarding common security interests and promoting regional and world peace and stability, the paper says.