China hopes that the coming foreign ministers meeting between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) will help reinforce and advance relations among the three countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said Thursday.

The foreign ministers of the three countries will hold the fourth official meeting in Gyeongju of the ROK on May 15-16.

The meeting is a prelude to the third summit of the three countries, which is to take place in the ROK at the end of May. According to the Foreign Ministry, China is planning for Premier Wen Jiabao to be at the summit.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will also attend the meeting, as would his counterparts: the Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and ROK Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan.

Ma expressed the wish that the meeting extensively review the development and set goals for cooperation among the three countries.

Ma said he hoped the meeting would consolidate and advance relations among the three countries and push forward the process of East Asia cooperation.

The foreign ministers meeting of China, Japan and ROK was initiated in June, 2007. The latest foreign ministers meeting was held in Shanghai in September, 2009.