SEOUL - China, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan plan to hold the first meeting of commerce ministers in more than three years in Seoul this week, the ROK's trade ministry said Tuesday.

The 10th round of the meeting between economy and trade ministers from the ROK, China and Japan will be held at a hotel in central Seoul on Friday morning, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

It would mark the first such meeting since May 2012, ahead of the trilateral leadership meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, President of the ROK?Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expected to be held in Seoul on Sunday.

Attending the commerce ministers' meeting will be China's International Trade Representative Zhong Shan, the ROK's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick and Motoo Hayashi, Japan's minister of economy, trade and industry.

During the talks, the three ministers will discuss how to speed up negotiations on the free trade deal between the three countries and the regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP) and how to accelerate the trilateral trade and investment.