Trilateral cooperation among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) enjoys vast potential, said Yang Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry official, on Friday.

Yang, deputy director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Department of Asian Affairs, made the remarks in a press interview, commenting on a meeting due to take place in Ningbo over the weekend between the foreign ministers of the three countries.

She said the foreign ministers will exchange views on developments and the future direction of cooperation between the three nations. They will also make preparations for the fifth trilateral meeting among the leaders of China, Japan and the ROK.

"There is not only a good basis but also vast potential in pragmatic cooperation among China, Japan and the ROK," said Yang, adding that the three nations have made positive progress since 1999 in their cooperations, featuring leaders' meetings and various mechanisms.

Under the joint efforts of the three nations, China has become the largest trade partner of Japan and the ROK, while Japan and the ROK have become China's major trade partners and sources of foreign investment, according to Yang.

"Cooperation among China, Japan and the ROK has become an important platform to develop good neighborliness and enlarge common interests," she added.

Against the backdrop of uncertain prospects for the global economy and continuous instability in West Asia and North Africa, trilateral cooperation among China, Japan and the ROK has drawn great attention from the world, Yang said.

To deepen cooperation is not only helpful in promoting economic and social developments in China, Japan and the ROK, but will also step up the integration of the East Asian economy and inject energy into the recovery of the global economy, the official said.

China, Japan and the ROK will further facilitate the liberalization of trade and investment, and they will promote pragmatic cooperation in fields including finance, energy and technology, Yang said.