2011-01-18 19:42

BEIJING - Trilateral cooperation among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) has become an important platform for expanding common interests and friendship, said a foreign ministry spokesman here Tuesday.

China will work with Japan and the ROK to make good use of the platform as a way to safeguard regional peace and build a harmonious Asia, Hong Lei told a regular press conference.

Hong made the remarks when asked to comment on the trilateral cooperation in 2010.

Last Year, China, Japan and the ROK adopted the "Trilateral Cooperation Vision 2020," a document outlining the vision for developing relations among the three nations over the next decade.

Pragmatic cooperation has been expanded rapidly in fields including trade, logistics, environmental protection and cultural exchanges, he said.

The joint study on the China-Japan-ROK free trade area (FTA) by the government, industry and academia was progressing well, he said.

The three nations have agreed to set up a trilateral cooperation secretariat in Incheon, west of Seoul, in 2011 and an ambassadorial-level ROK diplomat will first take the rotating lead role as secretary-general, Hong added.

In response to a question on the date of the fifth foreign ministers' meeting of China, Japan and the ROK in Japan this year, Hong said the schedule of the meeting was still being considered by the three sides.