Beijing, October 10: Leaders of China, Japan and South Korea met on Saturday for talks that were expected to focus on North Korea and cooperation on trade and climate change.
Ahead of their talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, South Korean President Lee Myung Bak and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said in Seoul Friday that they wanted to agree on a “single step” solution on ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.
In a speech at the opening of Saturday’s talks, Wen said the three leaders planned at the summit to “review and summarize the progress of trilateral cooperation and draw up the future plans.”
“We will also exchange views on important international and regional issues,” Wen said.”
“It is of great significance in increasing political mutual trust, promoting mutual beneficial cooperation and advancing stability and development of Asia,” he said.
The leaders were expected to issue joint statements on economic growth and political cooperation, Chinese state media said.
Hatoyama was expected to discuss his proposal for an East Asian economic community while Japan’s Kyodo News agency said he also hoped to discuss a “comprehensive solution to the North Korean nuclear, ballistic missile and abduction issues,” referring to kidnappings of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents in the 1970s and ‘80s, which Japan said remain unresolved.
China, South Korea and Japan are involved in six-nation talks aimed at ending Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme. The United States, Russia and North Korea also participate in the talks, which have been stalled since late last year.
Lee proposed the one-step solution last month as a way to end North Korea’s tactic of balking at completing each incremental step of its denuclearization and seeking incentives for each one.
Lee’s “grand bargain” would offer economic aid and security guarantees if North Korea agrees to complete denuclearization in a single step.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il last week told Wen in Pyongyang that his country was willing to return to six-party talks if there was progress on bilateral talks between his country and its archrival, the United States.
China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry quoted Wu Dawei, its chief envoy to the six-party talks, as saying Wen and Kim had “reached important agreement on promoting denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
“This is highly significant for the resumption of the six-party talks and signals that an important opportunity has emerged for the talks to come out of difficulties thanks to the concerted efforts of the parties concerned,” Wu said.
But North Korea’s state media dismissed Lee’s proposal of a grand bargain as “laughable.”
The leaders of China, Japan and South Korea held their first three-way summit in Japan in December although previous talks took place on the sidelines of meetings between the three nations and the Association of South-East Asian Nations.
–Agencies