China, Japan, South Korea’s foreign ministers to ‘meet next week’ in first Tokyo gathering in 5 years
North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme to be discussed and talks could lead to meeting between China and Japan’s leaders next month, sources say
China, Japan and South Korea’s foreign ministers are planning to hold talks next week in Tokyo, Japanese government sources said on Wednesday, aimed at paving the way for a leaders’ meeting next month.
The three countries are looking to hold the ministerial meeting on August 23 and 24, the first such gathering to be held in Japan in more than five years.
The ministers are expected to discuss North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile development programmes, the sources said.
The ministers are also likely to commit to strengthening economic cooperation, including negotiations towards finalising a three-nation free trade agreement.
Japan’s ties with China and South Korea have been under strain in recent years due to territorial disputes and allegations that it has not sufficiently atoned for atrocities carried out during the second world war.
The talks could serve as a springboard for a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit next month in Hangzhou, China, the sources said.