On the morning of May 9, 2018 local time, Premier Li Keqiang, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea (ROK) jointly met the press at the State Guest House in Tokyo after the conclusion of the 7th China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting, introducing the outcomes of the meeting.
Li Keqiang expressed that we jointly reviewed and looked into the future of China-Japan-ROK cooperation, and exchanged in-depth views centering on the recent positive changes in the Korean Peninsula. All the three parties agreed to, in line with the already-reached consensus, seize opportunities to promote trilateral cooperation for sound, stable and sustainable development, and make concerted efforts to advance and safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula as well as in the region.
Li Keqiang pointed out that as important economies in East Asia and important neighboring countries to each other, China, Japan and the ROK share far more common interests than differences. We all agreed to regularly hold leaders' meeting, guide the expansion of common interests, as well as manage, control and resolve divergences.
Li Keqiang stressed that we hope to forge the China-Japan-ROK cooperation with openness and integration in economy. As beneficiaries of globalization and free trade, the three countries should promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation in a more active manner, speed up the negotiations on the China-Japan-ROK free trade area and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, guide the construction of the East Asia economic community, and push forward the regional economic integration, so as to inject confidence and impetus into world economic growth. We agreed to establish the "China-Japan-ROK+X" cooperation mechanism, jointly expand the fourth-party market and benefit the cooperation partner, as well as improve the international competitiveness of the three countries. We agreed to expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, learn from each other in a friendly manner, and consolidate the public opinion foundation.
Li Keqiang expressed that we all welcome the return of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue to the track of settlement through dialogue. We congratulate on the successful convening of the third leaders' meeting between the ROK and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and expect the realization of the meeting between leaders of the DPRK and the United States. It is hoped that various parties will seize the current favorable opportunity to resume dialogue as soon as possible, so as to make contributions to the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue and the realization of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. China will continue to play a constructive role in this regard.
Li Keqiang expressed that China will take over the presidency of China-Japan-ROK cooperation mechanism after the conclusion of the meeting. The Chinese side expects to, together with Japan and the ROK, enhance mutual trust and meet each other halfway, in a bid to make China-Japan-ROK cooperation become the vessel of East Asian cooperation, the anchor of regional stability and the source of global development.
Shinzo Abe expressed that as important neighboring countries, the three countries have cultivated trust, promoted cooperation as well as properly managed and controlled differences through the leaders' meeting, which is of important significance to peace and stability in the region and the world. Enjoying broad cooperation space in artificial intelligence, digital economy, infrastructure construction and other fields, the three countries are important engines of regional and global development. Speaking positively of the talks between leaders of the ROK and the DPRK, the Japanese side stands ready to join hands with various parties to make progress, and push forward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, in a bid to safeguard peace and stability in Northeast Asia.
Moon Jae-in expressed that the ROK, China and Japan are neighboring countries with historical, geographic and cultural proximity as well as important cooperation partners. The ROK stands ready to work together with China and Japan, and commit to realizing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and promoting enduring peace of the Peninsula and Northeast Asia. The three countries should expand practical cooperation in various fields and non-governmental exchanges, and take the successive holding of Winter Olympics and Olympic Games in the three countries as opportunities to expand personnel exchanges.
Wang Yi and He Lifeng attended the above activity.