Leaders of South Korea, China, and Japan are set to meet next week for their first trilateral talks since 2019. The summit aims to restore and normalize relations and cooperation between the three countries. South Korea has proposed six topics for discussion including personnel exchanges, climate change, trade, health, technology, and disasters. The meeting will include South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Seoul on Monday.
Since the inaugural stand-alone trilateral summit in 2008, the three countries were supposed to hold such a meeting among their leaders every year. However, the summit has been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and often-complex ties among the Asian neighbors since the last one in December 2019 in China. Chinese President Xi Jinping will not be attending the upcoming summit, but Li and Kishida are scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Sunday to meet with Yoon bilaterally and engage in discussions surrounding various topics of cooperation.
The trilateral meeting is seen as a turning point for South Korea, Japan, and China to restore and normalize their cooperation systems. The three leaders are expected to discuss not only the six South Korea-proposed topics but also regional and international political issues and a response to global crises. The economic and cultural ties between the three countries, accounting for about 25% of the global GDP, have often faced obstacles due to historical disputes and strategic competition between China and the United States.
Despite being key U.S. military allies and hosting American troops, South Korea and Japan have faced challenges in bolstering trilateral cooperation due to historical tensions stemming from Japan’s colonization of the Korean Peninsula. However, relations have improved in recent years as they have worked together to address shared challenges such as North Korea’s nuclear program and supply chain vulnerabilities. The three countries, along with the U.S., hope to leverage China’s influence to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.
The ongoing discussions and cooperation among South Korea, China, and Japan not only seek to address regional challenges but also contribute to international peace and stability. The trilateral meeting serves as an opportunity for the three countries to strengthen their partnership in the face of global crises and work together to address common goals and objectives. By engaging in open and productive dialogue, the leaders aim to pave the way for enhanced cooperation and understanding among the three countries.
Moving forward, the trilateral talks are seen as a crucial step in revitalizing relations and promoting cooperative efforts among South Korea, China, and Japan. By addressing various areas of mutual interest such as personnel exchanges, climate change, technology, and disasters, the leaders aim to foster a more stable and prosperous future for the region. The summit represents a significant opportunity for the three countries to build upon their economic and cultural ties and work towards a more harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship.
