Do Je-hae edits news stories as part of the AI team.
Korea, Japan, China pledge full support for nuclear dialogue
President Moon Jae-in, left, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, center, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hold a press conference, Tuesday, after their summit in Chengdu. Yonhap
By Do Je-hae
By Do Je-hae
CHENGDU ― Korea, Japan and China reaffirmed their commitment to the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula during a regular trilateral summit in the southwestern Chinese city, Tuesday.
The leaders took part in a business summit earlier Tuesday and shared their views on responses to protectionism, climate change and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. “By fate, we are a joint economic community,” Moon said. “The three countries' economies are linked with their own technologies and merits.”
President Moon Jae-in, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivered a joint statement after the three-way summit promoting a “vision for cooperation for the next 10 years.”
During a joint press conference, Moon Jae-in noted the importance of close trilateral cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula. “We share the view that peace on the peninsula should serve the common interests of the three countries,” the South Korean leader said. “We have agreed to work together for an early resumption of the U.S.-North Korea dialogue in order to achieve substantial progress on denuclearization and peace.”
The leaders of China and Japan also underlined the importance of reviving the nuclear talks between U.S. and North Korea. “Our three countries discussed the impact of each of us on the international security situation. In particular, we engaged over in-depth discussion about the Korean Peninsula. We have reaffirmed once again that it is our common goal to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and permanent peace in Northeast Asia,” Li said. “We are of the same view that dialogue and negotiations are the only effective way to resolve the situation on the Korean Peninsula.”
President Moon Jae-in, second from right, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, center, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, fourth from right, take a tour of the Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Chengdu, Tuesday. The historic site is and museum is in honor of the renowned Tang dynasty poet Du Fu (712–770). Yonhap
The Japanese leader also highlighted the need to resume the talks between the U.S. and North Korea. “North Korea's launches are in violation of UNSC resolutions and they are a grave threat to regional security. For complete denuclearization, it is important to do all we can to support the process between North Korea and the U.S. and maintain the momentum for dialogue. This is the common position of our three countries,” Abe said.
The three countries' calls for reviving dialogue comes amid rising tension between the U.S. and North Korea ahead of the Pyongyang-imposed “deadline” for Washington to change its tactics. Speculations are rising that a long range test is imminent, with North Korean leader having threatened to take a “new path” if Washington does not change its policies. It remains to be seen what kind of path Kim will take ahead of the new year.
The three leaders also vowed to step up their cooperation in various areas, including the economy, culture, sports and science, among others.
Korea-China-Japan FTA
President Moon mentioned the need to expedite various avenues of economic partnerships, such as the RCEP and expand FTA networks. "In October, we reaffirmed the value of free trade as we concluded the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement. We will use Asia's strength to further expand the free trade order by advancing follow-up negotiations on the Korea-China FTA in regard to service and investment and the Korea-China-Japan FTA negotiations," the South Korean leader said.
He also said the he was looking forward to building stronger economic community with the two neighbors through projects like the East Asian Railroad Community initiative. "Starting with the East Asian Railroad Community initiative, if we establish an energy community and economic community, along with a system for regional peace and security, opportunities will multiply for enterprises. Opening up a new Silk Road and the Northern Sea Route will truly complete continental and maritime network linkage," Moon said. "China's One Belt, One Road Initiative, Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and Korea's New Northern and New Southern policies all link continental and maritime regions. The consistent goal is to bring people's hearts and minds together as well as to support peace and prosperity for all."
South Korea will host the next trilateral summit in 2020. "As the chair of the next summit, we have the responsibility for more progress in the lives of the peoples of the three countries based on the outcome of trilateral cooperation. We will also expand our cooperation to areas such as environment, healthcare and dealing with the aging population crisis."
The three countries have agreed to designate 2020 as the "year of science innovation" and conduct various projects for stepping up cooperation in this regard.