Chinese Premier Li Praises Restart in Relations with Japan and South Korea

Chinese Premier Li Qiang praised the restart in relations with Japan and South Korea as he engaged in three-way talks with their leaders for the first time in four years. The leaders met in Seoul to revive trade and security dialogues that had been hampered by global tensions.

During the meeting, Li, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed various areas of cooperation, including the economy and trade, science and technology, people-to-people exchanges, and health and aging populations. They also considered resuming three-party free trade agreement negotiations, which have been stalled since 2019.

Li emphasized the importance of comprehensive trilateral cooperation with an open attitude and transparent measures, noting that despite global transformations, the relations between the three nations remain unchanged. He referred to the meeting as both a restart and a new beginning.

The summit comes as China, South Korea, and Japan navigate rising distrust amidst the rivalry between Beijing and Washington, as well as tensions over Taiwan. Yoon and Kishida have been working closely with each other and with the United States on military and other measures, aiming for unprecedented three-way cooperation.

The leaders also discussed North Korea’s recent notification to Japan of its plan to launch a rocket carrying a space satellite, which has raised concerns due to potential violations of U.N. resolutions. The U.S., Japan, and South Korea have demanded that North Korea cancel the launch.

Trade relations between China, South Korea, and Japan have evolved over the past decade, becoming increasingly competitive. The summit aims to help the three countries revive and reinvigorate their strained relations, with discussions expected to cover a range of economic and trade issues.

While major announcements are uncertain, the gathering of the three leaders is seen as a positive step towards closer cooperation. The leaders are also set to attend a forum with top business executives, further enhancing dialogue and collaboration between the three nations.