On the afternoon of May 9, 2018 local time, Premier Li Keqiang met in Tokyo with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea (ROK).
Li Keqiang first conveyed President Xi Jinping's warm greetings to President Moon Jae-in. Li Keqiang expressed that China and the ROK are friendly and close neighbors as well as important cooperation partners. China stands ready to, together with the ROK, enhance strategic communication, consolidate political mutual trust, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to promote further easing of the regional situation. It is hoped that the ROK will continue to properly handle the issue of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense system. Both sides should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation in various fields, and expand mutual benefit and win-win results.
Li Keqiang pointed out that the China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting this time has reached a lot of new consensus on enhancing cooperation, safeguarding regional stability and promoting regional development. After this meeting, China will take over the presidency of the China-Japan-ROK cooperation mechanism and hopes to, together with the ROK and Japan, increase mutual trust, and meet each other halfway, in a bid to promote the China-Japan-ROK cooperation and the regional integration process.
Li Keqiang congratulated on the successful holding of the leaders' meeting between the ROK and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) not long ago, welcomed the return of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue to the track of dialogue, and spoke highly of the efforts made by the ROK. This situation does not come easily. Therefore, all parties should seize the opportunity, maintain the right direction of dialogue, contact and the improvement of relations among all parties, and make efforts for the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue and the realization of the enduring peace on the Korean Peninsula. China will continue playing a constructive role in this regard.
Moon Jae-in congratulated on the positive outcomes achieved in the ROK-China-Japan leaders' meeting. Not long ago, the leaders' meeting between the ROK and the DPRK achieved a success. He thanked China for its strong support and cooperation, and hoped for continued full support from China for the leaders' meeting between the ROK and the United States as well as the process of realizing peace on the Korean Peninsula in the next step. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership. The ROK-China relations have been restored and normalized. It is hoped that the two sides will maintain high-level exchanges, consolidate political trust, and promote practical cooperation, so as to push forward new progress of bilateral relations.
Wang Yi and He Lifeng attended the meeting.