In Tokyo on March 22, the foreign ministers of the Chinese mainland, Japan, and South Korea met for trilateral talks that signal a robust commitment to pragmatic multilateral cooperation. The discussions centered on aligning common regional interests with the evolving global situation, addressing issues from economic stability to global challenges such as the situation in Ukraine.
The meeting set the stage for a forthcoming leaders' summit—resuming after a four‐and‐a‐half-year hiatus—which will focus on six key areas: cultural exchange, sustainable development, trade, public health, technology, and disaster relief. The ministers also agreed to restart negotiations on a trilateral free trade agreement that could further deepen economic ties in the region.
This gathering marked Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's first visit to Tokyo in over four years. During his visit, he co-chaired the revitalized 6th China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue, a mechanism dormant for six years. His remarks highlighted the tremendous economic potential of the region, whose combined population nears 1.6 billion and whose economic output exceeds $24 trillion, representing 24 percent of global GDP and nearly 20 percent of global goods trade.
Historically, trilateral cooperation among these neighbors emerged in the wake of crises like the 1998 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 global financial crisis. Today, amid increasing protectionism and strategic rivalries, the framework for cooperation is viewed as crucial to upholding multilateralism and defending a rules-based trading system.
While historical disputes and geopolitical tensions still linger, the Tokyo meeting underscored a shared resolve to set aside differences and harness collective strengths. This strategic engagement is expected to drive economic growth and contribute significantly to regional stability in an era marked by external uncertainties.
