In a trilateral summit held in Seoul, Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized the importance of upholding free trade and rejecting protectionism to foster economic cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea. Li opposed turning economic and trade issues into political games or security matters, advocating for a partnership-oriented approach to development among the three countries.

The summit marked the ninth such meeting between China, Japan, and South Korea, representing a renewed effort to strengthen economic and security ties after more than four years. In a joint statement released after the summit, the leaders committed to institutionalizing cooperation by regularly convening trilateral summits and ministerial meetings.

A key agenda item of the summit was the negotiation of a free trade agreement aimed at promoting fair, comprehensive, high-quality, and mutually beneficial trade relations among the three nations. Despite challenges, including regional security concerns and geopolitical tensions, the leaders expressed their commitment to advancing economic cooperation and ensuring a transparent global playing field for trade and investment.

The summit also addressed pressing regional security issues, particularly North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The leaders jointly called for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and pledged to make positive efforts for a political settlement of the issue, underscoring the importance of regional stability and peace.

Amid discussions on economic and security cooperation, bilateral talks between China and both Japan and South Korea took place on the eve of the summit. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed serious concerns about the situation in the South China Sea and China's military activities near Taiwan. He emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for the international community, including Japan.

While efforts to strengthen economic ties between China, Japan, and South Korea continue, challenges remain in insulating economic relations from broader geopolitical developments. The evolving security environment, including Japan's increasing support for Taiwan and cooperation with the United States, presents obstacles to maintaining stable economic relations between China and Japan. However, both Beijing and Tokyo are committed to finding ways to navigate these challenges and preserve their economic relationship amidst regional complexities.

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