Press Releases
Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Senior Officials’ Meeting
October 28, 2024
On October 28, the Trilateral Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) among Japan, China and the Republic of Korea was held at the Iikura Guest House. Mr. FUNAKOSHI Takehiro, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and his Chinese and Korean counterparts, Mr. SUN Weidong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, and Mr. CHUNG Byung-won, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Republic of Korea attended the meeting as the heads of their respective delegations.
- The three heads of delegations commended the progress of trilateral cooperation, including the holding of several Ministerial meetings since the revitalization of Japan-China-ROK process at the Trilateral Summit in May this year, which was the first Summit in four-and-a-half years. They also confirmed their intention to further strengthen future-oriented cooperation among three countries.
- Given that the three countries face common challenges such as climate change, disaster risk reduction and low birthrate and ageing society, the three heads of delegations concurred on continuing to discuss specific cooperation projects that benefit the three countries, including the six areas of cooperation decided at the Trilateral Summit in May this year. ((1) People to People Exchanges, (2) Sustainable Development including through Climate Change Response, (3) Economic Cooperation and Trade, (4) Public Health and Ageing Society, (5) Science and Technology Cooperation, Digital Transformation, (6) Disaster Relief and Safety)
- The three heads of delegations concurred on preparing for holding the Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Trilateral Summit at the earliest convenient time.
- On the same day, Minister IWAYA received a courtesy call from Vice Minister Sun and Deputy Minister Chung. Minister IWAYA welcomed Vice Minister Sun and Deputy Minister Chung’s visit to Japan and conveyed his wish to further strengthen future-oriented cooperation among the three countries, leveraging the momentum of the trilateral process that was revitalized at the Trilateral Summit this May. He also conveyed that he looks forward to welcoming H.E. Mr. WANG Yi, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China and H.E. CHO Tae-yul, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea at the next Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.