May 13, 2012 
(L-R) South Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak, China Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda pose in front of their national flags at the Great Hall of the People May 13, 2012 in Beijing, China. The three are meeting for talks focused on maintaining strong relations, the global economy and disaster relief. The trilateral summits began in 2008. (Photo by Petar Kujundzic-Pool/Getty Images)
(NHK) — The leaders of Japan, China, and South Korea held an annual summit in Beijing on Sunday morning. They confirmed that the 3 nations will start talks on a trilateral free trade agreement within the year.
At the beginning of the meeting, Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said the Asia-Pacific region has factors of instability in security while seeing high growth.
Noda called for a frank exchange of views to further promote trilateral cooperation, which has become a key item in the framework for regional peace and stability.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said their exchange of opinions is of great significance at a time when Northeast Asia faces many factors of instability and unpredictability. He apparently had the Korean Peninsula situation in mind.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak told the meeting he is certain that strengthening cooperation among the 3 nations will lead to further growth and development of East Asia and the world economy.
The leaders confirmed their resolve to urge North Korea to refrain from carrying out another nuclear test and other acts of provocation.
The leaders also signed an investment treaty, the first trilateral legal framework in the economic field, underscoring closer cooperation among the 3 major East Asian nations. (*)
SOURCE : NHK
Posted Sunday, May 13, 2012
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