Presidential Office: “Normalization of Trilateral Cooperation System will be a Turning Point”
“Trilateral summit meeting with President Yoon Suk-yeol, Prime Minister Kishida of Japan, and Premier Li Keqiang of China is set to take place in Seoul on the 26th and 27th of the month. This trilateral summit is the first in 4 years and 5 months since it was last held in Chengdu, China in December 2019.”
“At this summit meeting, attention is focused on whether the current issues among the three countries, such as supply chain issues, the Taiwan issue, and the Line Yahu incident, entwined with cooperation and containment, will be discussed at the table.”
“Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, announced the official hosting of the trilateral summit meeting on the 23rd, stating that it will be ‘a pivotal moment to completely restore and normalize the trilateral cooperation system.’ He added, ‘It will be an opportunity to secure a forward-looking and substantive momentum for cooperation that benefits the citizens of the three countries.'”
“President Yoon, who will chair the summit meeting, is expected to present six key areas of cooperation at the trilateral summit scheduled for the 27th. These include: personnel exchanges, sustainable development through climate change response, economic and trade cooperation, health and aging population response cooperation, science and technology and digital transformation cooperation, disaster and safety cooperation.”
“Deputy Director Kim stated, ‘The ultimate goal of trilateral cooperation is to promote economic development and enhance the quality of life for all three countries by fostering active exchange and creating a healthy and safe environment where the citizens of the three countries can trust each other.'”
“Furthermore, Kim mentioned that ‘discussions will also be held on regional and international situations,’ saying, ‘As non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, the three countries of Korea, Japan, and China will pool their strengths to discuss ways to contribute to global peace and prosperity and exchange views.'”
“On the day before the Korea-Japan-China summit on the 26th, President Yoon is scheduled to hold consecutive summit meetings with Japan and China.”
“For the meeting between President Yoon and Premier Li of China, Deputy Director Kim stated that they plan to ‘discuss enhancing strategic communication between the two countries, expanding economic and trade cooperation, creating a friendly investment environment within China, promoting cultural and personnel exchanges, and discussing cooperation on regional and global issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula.'”
“As for the Korea-Japan summit, it was stated that ‘President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida will exchange views on concrete ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, and cooperation on regional and global issues, including the Indo-Pacific region.'”
“Prior to the hosting of the summit meeting, China raised concerns by summoning Korean and Japanese military attaches in response to the attendance of Korean and Japanese politicians at the inauguration ceremony of Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on the 20th.”
“In response, a high-ranking official at the Presidential Office stated, ‘Sending a delegation has not deviated from the tradition of sending diplomats at each new inauguration of the Taiwan President over an extended period of time.'”
“The official further emphasized that ‘regardless of China’s position externally, it will not affect Korea-China relations,’ and added, ‘We consistently adhere to the One China policy, and as the Chinese government has no objections, the Korea-Japan-China summit will not be affected at all.'”
“There is also attention on whether President Yoon will discuss the Line Yahoo incident, a current issue between Korea and Japan, during the meeting with Prime Minister Kishida. Although the official stated that ‘they are not going into the meeting with predetermined topics,’ they left open the possibility that ‘if either side wishes to raise certain issues, they may be raised on the spot.'”
▲Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, is briefing on the hosting of the Korea-Japan-China summit, Korea-UAE summit, and Korea-Africa summit on the 23rd at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul. ⓒYonhap News