diplomacy
South Korea, Japan and China are aiming for a three-way summit soon
The Foreign Minister of South Korea (2nd from right), the Deputy Foreign Minister of Japan (2nd from left), his Chinese counterpart (r) and the Deputy Foreign Minister of South Korea: A similar meeting could take place again. photo
© Kim Min-Hee/Pool Kyodo News/AP/dpa
There has been no trilateral summit of the heads of state and government of the three countries since the end of 2019. That should change – there is even a suggested date.
After a break of several years, the three economic powers want to South Korea, Japan and China will hold another trilateral summit in the near future. China’s state and party leader Xi Jinping, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida would take part.
The summit should take place as soon as possible, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry announced after discussions with high-ranking government representatives from the three countries in Seoul. It was said that the foreign ministers would meet beforehand to prepare for the top meeting.
The Japanese news agency Kyodo reported, citing diplomatic sources, that South Korea had suggested December as the date. There could be a joint statement afterwards.
The heads of state and government of the three countries met for the first time in 2008 for a trilateral summit outside of larger international conferences. At that time they agreed that such meetings should take place annually in the future. This has not happened since the end of 2019 due to bilateral disputes and the corona pandemic.