Free trade – not turf rows – tipped to top China, Japan, South Korea summit agenda
A trilateral leaders meeting could be on the cards as tensions ease between the big East Asian countries
The leaders of three of Asia’s biggest economies will aim to advance a free-trade agreement and economic cooperation, putting territorial rows and military tensions aside at an expected trilateral summit in April, Chinese diplomatic observers said.
Li told Kono that relations between China and Japan “are not just about the two countries but have an important impact on the region and the world”, state news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday.
Stressing that the two economies were “highly complementary”, Li also urged Japan to properly handle sensitive issues for further cooperation between people and businesses in the two countries.
China reluctant to commit to Japan’s plan to hold trilateral summit with South Korea in April, sources say
Kono said Japan would welcome a visit by Li to Tokyo and hoped it would be a chance to hold a new round of trilateral talks with South Korea.
