On May 15, 2010, the fourth trilateral foreign ministers' meeting of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) was held in Gyeongju, the ROK. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Minister Yu Myung-hwan for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea and Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada attended the meeting. The three foreign ministers made positive comments on the trilateral cooperation among China, Japan and South Korea and exchanged views on lifting the level of the trilateral cooperation, preparing for the third leaders' meeting of the three countries, as well as major international and regional issues of common concern.
Yang said the current foreign ministers’ meeting was held against the background that the economy of Asia and the world at large is gradually recovering, the trilateral cooperation of the three countries faces greater opportunities for development and the third leaders’ meeting of China, Japan and the ROK is to be held soon. In the past year, the trilateral cooperation had a more clear direction with more practical content, wider range, improved mechanism and greater influence. The trilateral cooperation is conducive to economic growth and recovery of the three countries, and will give new impetus to East Asia’s cooperation and sustainable development. Yang urged the three countries to maintain the sound momentum, further reach political consensus, advance pragmatic cooperation in all areas and provide strong support to stability and transition of development modes of the three countries and this region. The three countries should build more stable strategic trust, conduct mutually beneficial cooperation at a deeper level, expand social and cultural exchanges, well build the trilateral cooperation mechanism and join hands to advance East Asian cooperation.
The three foreign ministers agreed that the China-Japan-ROK cooperation is not only conducive to the three countries’ common development, but also to peace, prosperity and stability of the region and the world at large. The three nations are ready to make joint efforts to conduct all-round cooperation, actively push forward political, economic, social, people-to-people and cultural and disaster management cooperation and explore new areas of collaboration.
The three foreign ministers deiced to hold the fifth trilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Japan next year.