Asia's development vitality hinges on stronger China-Japan-South Korea cooperation

People visit Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, South Korea, on May 24, 2024. The ninth Trilateral Summit Meeting among China, Japan and South Korea will be held in Seoul from May 26 to 27. [Xinhua/Yao Qilin]

In their inaugural joint declaration issued 21 years ago, the three countries committed to advancing development, enhancing cooperation in East Asia, and safeguarding peace and prosperity both regionally and globally through their trilateral collaboration.

SEOUL -- After a hiatus of more than four years, leaders from China, Japan, and South Korea will convene here for the ninth Trilateral Summit Meeting.

The restart of the trilateral meeting takes place against the backdrop of rising protectionism, armed conflicts, and supply chain restructuring. As major countries in Asia and leading economies in the world, the three countries carry a profound responsibility to articulate an unwavering commitment to bolstering trilateral cooperation.

Born amidst the tumult of the Asian financial crisis in 1999, the three countries' cooperative framework stands out as an epitome of multilateral cooperation in East Asia, anchored by leaders' meetings and fortified by a network of ministerial gatherings, senior officials' assemblies, and more than 70 working-level mechanisms.

The summit meeting was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, challenges impeding its resumption were complicated by bilateral disputes and tensions. Above all those, persistent external interference has added to the instability of trilateral cooperation.

Restarting the trilateral cooperation mechanism is inevitable because the shared interests and benefits of cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea have made the renewal of dialogue and collaboration compelling.

After all, the three countries are neighbors that cannot be moved away, and East Asia is the shared home of the three. The benefits of trilateral cooperation far outweigh the discord among the three close neighbors.

Deepening trilateral cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea serves the common interests of all three parties. In terms of trade and economy, China is the largest trading partner of the other two. The signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), inclusive of China, Japan, and South Korea, further accentuates the need to heighten economic integration among these key stakeholders.

This tripartite cooperation has facilitated the advancement of the participating nations and yielded tangible benefits for the wider regional populace.

The combined population of China, Japan, and South Korea accounts for one-fifth of the global total, and their combined GDP makes up about one-fourth of the global total. The three countries are undoubtedly the main economic engines in East Asia and beyond. Enhanced trilateral cooperation among the three will contribute positively to regional and global development.

People visit the China exhibition area at the Seoul International Travel Fair in Seoul, South Korea, May 9, 2024. [Xinhua/Yao Qilin]

In the Trilateral Cooperation Vision for the Next Decade, a cooperation document released during the last Trilateral Summit Meeting in 2019, the three countries pledged to work to develop a future-oriented cooperation model featuring peace, friendship and mutual benefit to make the trilateral cooperation a platform for peace, stability and regional cooperation and an important force for world development and prosperity.

The three countries should prioritize deeper cooperation across various sectors, including but not limited to economy, trade, culture, and technology. By leveraging their respective strengths and resources, they can bolster regional stability and prosperity while also fostering an environment conducive to peace and cooperation.

In recent years, Washington has played up ideological disparities and formed exclusive cliques, seeking to supplant cooperation and harmony with confrontation and discord to further its own geopolitical agenda.

By fanning division and animosity, such hegemonic tactics not only disrupt the stability and prosperity of the region but also impair genuine cooperation and progress.

As major economies in Asia, China, Japan, and South Korea hold a special responsibility to champion the inclusive values inherent to Asia. This entails nurturing a sense of strategic independence, preserving regional harmony and stability, and adamantly rejecting any revival of Cold War mentality.

In their inaugural joint declaration issued 21 years ago, the three countries committed to advancing development, enhancing cooperation in East Asia, and safeguarding peace and prosperity both regionally and globally through their trilateral collaboration.

Let this pledge serve as a reminder of the vital role that China-Japan-South Korea trilateral cooperation plays in shaping the future of the region and beyond.