Premier Wen stresses co-op between China, Japan, S. Korea

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-13 19:46

FUKUOKA, Japan -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday underlined the importance of cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea, and put forward proposals for boosting trilateral ties.

A combination picture shows (L-R) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso and South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak speak to media during their joint news conference after their talks at Kyushu National Museum in Dazaifu, southern Japan December 13, 2008. [Agencies]

Wen was speaking to reporters at a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak after their meeting here.

China, Japan and South Korea are countries of major influence in East Asia, Wen said.

Developing peaceful and friendly relations is not only a common wish of the three countries but a precondition for realizing regional stability and prosperity, Wen said.

At the meeting, China, Japan and South Korea established a tripartite partnership and a mechanism of regular meetings, signaling that trilateral cooperation has entered a new stage, he said.

Wen said China, as host of next year's trilateral meeting, is willing to work with Japan and South Korea to push forward tripartite cooperation.

As the global financial crisis spreads and hits the world economy harder, China, Japan and South Korea should take dealing with the crisis as their primary task in their cooperation, the Chinese premier said.

The three countries should strengthen dialogue and coordination on macroeconomic polices, boost financial cooperation, adopt measures to facilitate trade and investment and guard against protectionism, he added.

Cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea is an organic component of larger cooperation in East Asia, and promotion of their cooperation is not only in the interests of the three nations but beneficial to other East Asian nations, he said.

Strengthening bilateral ties is the foundation and guarantee of the trilateral cooperation, Wen said, adding China is willing to promote its ties with Japan and South Korea from the strategic, long-term perspective.