China, Japan, SKorea hold summit

China, Japan, SKorea hold summit

	Published : Sun, 14 Jan 2007 12:45 By : Agencies Print this Story

CEBU, Philippines (XFN-ASIA) - The leaders of China, Japan and South Korea held their first summit in two years here Sunday, finding common ground on North Korea and on mending their own fractured relations.

In an unusual joint statement, the three appeared to have shored up a relationship that was strained by complaints over the previous Japanese government's attitude to the country's notorious World War II past.

But new Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made better relations a priority since taking office in September, and his talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun were hailed by all sides.

'The three leaders expressed satisfaction with the recent development of relations,' the statement said, pledging a meeting of their senior foreign affairs officials in China later this year.

'As important countries in Asia, China, Japan and South Korea shoulder great responsibilities in maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in Asia.'

The three took particular aim at North Korea, which angered even its lone major ally China in October when it tested a nuclear weapon for the first time despite massive international pressure to give up its nuclear programme.

'The leaders expressed their concern about the situation caused by the DPRK's recent missile launches and nuclear test,' the statement said.

Wen told Abe in a one-to-one meeting earlier Sunday: 'Last year you paid an important visit to China and due to the common efforts between our countries, we have found a solution to eradicate the obstacles in our relationship.'

Wen added: 'We are happy to see that China-Japan relations are moving forward. This is in the interest of the people in our two countries, Asia and the whole world.'

The statement said the three had agreed to improve 'coordination on major political and diplomatic issues involving the three countries as well as international and regional issues'.