Korea-Japan-China Summit Meeting to be Held in Seoul on 26-27... Discussion on 6 Major Cooperation Areas (Comprehensive)

Yoon Holds Talks with Li Qiang, Chinese Premier, and Kishida, Japanese Prime Minister
Discusses Six Key Areas Including Economic Trade and Human Exchange
Joint Declaration Adopted... Press Conference Also Under Discussion

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 2nd Economic Issue Review Meeting held on the 23rd at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korea-Japan-China summit will be held in Seoul on the 26th and 27th of this month, marking the first meeting in 4 years and 5 months. The leaders of the three countries are expected to have in-depth discussions on six key areas of cooperation, including economic and trade relations and people-to-people exchanges, and adopt a joint declaration that includes these topics.

Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, held a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the afternoon of the 23rd, stating, "The 9th Korea-Japan-China summit will be held in Seoul on the 26th and 27th. This is the first meeting in 4 years and 5 months since the 8th summit held in Chengdu, China, in December 2019."

On the first day of the summit, the 26th, President Yoon Suk-yeol will hold bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, respectively. On the following day, the 27th, the Korea-Japan-China summit will be held in the morning, after which the leaders will attend a business summit to deliver speeches and encourage businesspeople from the three countries attending the event.

"A Turning Point to Fully Restore Korea-Japan-China Cooperation"

Deputy Director Kim said, "This summit will be a turning point for the three countries to fully restore and normalize their cooperative framework," adding, "It will serve as an opportunity to secure future-oriented and practical cooperation momentum that the people of the three countries can feel the benefits of."

He continued, "The ultimate goal of trilateral cooperation, as envisioned by our government, is to create an environment where the people of the three countries can trust each other, actively exchange, and operate safely, thereby promoting economic development and improving quality of life."

He added, "Based on this direction, the government proposed six key cooperation areas to Japan and China during the summit preparation process, considering the relevance to the daily lives of our citizens and the actual cooperation needs among the three countries."

The six key cooperation areas are people-to-people exchanges, promoting sustainable development through cooperation on climate change response, economic and trade cooperation, cooperation on health and aging response, cooperation on science, technology and digital transformation, and cooperation on disaster and safety.

Deputy Director Kim said, "The leaders will have in-depth discussions on cooperation measures in these areas, and the results will be included in the trilateral joint declaration," emphasizing, "Since the joint declaration is the outcome of the leaders' consolidated will to cooperate, it will serve as a driving force to promote the implementation of cooperation projects at all levels in the future."

In addition, the leaders plan to discuss expanding the scope of Korea-Japan-China cooperation to the Indo-Pacific region and the global level. Deputy Director Kim said, "As members of the United Nations Security Council, the three countries will exchange views on ways to join forces in responding to global complex crises and contribute to peace and prosperity in the international community."

Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, is briefing on the Korea-Japan-China Summit, Korea-UAE Summit, and Korea-Africa Summit at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul on the 23rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon will also discuss ways to enhance cooperation in bilateral talks with Japan and China.

In the meeting with Premier Li Qiang, they are expected to discuss enhancing strategic communication between the two countries, expanding economic and trade cooperation, creating a friendly investment environment in China, promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and cooperation on regional and global issues including the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

In the meeting with Prime Minister Kishida, they will exchange views on ways to enhance practical cooperation between the two countries, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S., and Japan, and regional and global cooperation including the Indo-Pacific region.

Main Discussions on Economy, Livelihood, and Supply Chains... Joint Press Conference Planned

A senior official from the Presidential Office said regarding the Chinese government's summoning of the Korean ambassador to China over the participation of Korean political figures in the inauguration ceremony of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, "We have consistently maintained the position of supporting the 'One China' policy," adding, "The Chinese government has no disagreement on this, so it will not affect the summit."

When asked whether the 'Rineyahoo' issue might be raised at the Korea-Japan summit, the official replied, "We do not set the agenda in advance for the talks," but added, "There are many bilateral cooperation issues, including people-to-people exchanges, economy, and technological cooperation. If the leaders want to raise any particular agenda, they can do so on the spot."

However, the Presidential Office expects that in-depth discussions on Korea's possible participation in AUKUS Pillar 2, North Korea-Russia arms transactions, and North Korean denuclearization issues are unlikely to take place at this summit.

A senior official said, "North Korean denuclearization and inter-Korean relations are topics that are difficult to reach an agreement on in a short time among Korea, Japan, and China," adding, "Most of the time at this summit will likely be devoted to topics related to economy and livelihood, trade and industrial supply chains, how to cooperate, protect intellectual property rights, and activate investment and trade."

Regarding the possibility of a joint press conference by the Korea-Japan-China leaders, the official said, "It has not been finalized yet, but we are negotiating to hold a brief joint press conference."