China, Japan, ROK see ever closer cooperation

Exchanges and cooperation among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have become more frequent and ever closer since the beginning of the 21st century, delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of the three countries, says a white paper published on Wednesday.

"After more than ten years of development of the cooperation, the three countries have instituted an increasingly mature trilateral dialogue mechanism, steadily moved forward cooperation in various fields, and deepened mutual understanding and mutual trust," according to the handbook titled "China-Japan-ROK Cooperation 1999-2012."

The white paper was issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry ahead of the Fifth Trilateral Summit Meeting among China, Japan and the ROK. As the coordinator for this year's trilateral cooperation, China will host the summit meeting from Sunday to Monday in Beijing.

The trilateral cooperation, initiated in 1999, not only provides an important platform for China, Japan and the ROK to enhance good-neighborliness and friendship and expand common interests, but also constitutes an important part of East Asia cooperation, says the white paper.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, the China-Japan Year of Friendly Exchanges, the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK, and the Year of China-ROK Friendly Exchanges.

The white paper says the three countries have established a full-fledged mechanism for cooperation, and formed an all-dimensional, multi-tiered and wide-ranging cooperation framework with the Trilateral Summit Meeting at its core, and supported by 18 ministerial meetings in areas like foreign policy, economy and trade, science and technology and culture and over 50 working-level mechanisms.

In September 2011, the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat was established in Seoul with the aim of providing quality, efficient and professional services and support for trilateral cooperation.

"The achievements made over the past decade and more prove that stronger cooperation among China, Japan and the ROK serves the fundamental interests of the three countries and peoples, and contributes to peace, stability and prosperity of the region," says the white paper.

China attaches great importance to trilateral cooperation and plays an active part in the cooperation process, according to the handbook.

"The world today is undergoing complex and profound changes, and global economic growth is still beset by many destabilizing factors and uncertainties," says the document, adding that China, Japan and the ROK face both opportunities and challenges in promoting sustainable economic development.

China, Japan and the ROK together represent 74 percent and 22 percent of East Asian and world population, 90 percent and 20 percent of East Asian and world economy, and 70 percent and 20 percent of East Asian and world trade respectively.

"Further advancing trilateral cooperation not only contributes to the development of the three countries, but also helps promote East Asian integration and drives global economic growth," says the white paper.

"China will continue to approach and manage trilateral cooperation from a strategic perspective, and, on the basis of mutual trust, mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, expand and deepen cooperation with Japan and the ROK across the board so as to take trilateral cooperation to a new level," says the white paper.