China, S.Korea, Japan to hold commerce ministers' meeting in over 3 years

SEOUL - China, South Korea and Japan plan to hold the first meeting of commerce ministers in more than three years in Seoul this week, South Korea's trade ministry said Tuesday.

The 10th round of the meeting between economy and trade ministers from South Korea, China and Japan will be held at a hotel in central Seoul on Friday morning, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

It would mark the first such meeting since May 2012, ahead of the trilateral leadership meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expected to be held in Seoul on Sunday.

Attending the commerce ministers' meeting will be China's International Trade Representative Zhong Shan, South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick and Motoo Hayashi, Japan's minister of economy, trade and industry.

During the talks, the three ministers will discuss how to speed up negotiations on the free trade deal between the three countries and the regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP) and how to accelerate the trilateral trade and investment.