By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-03-22 06:41:34 | Updated at 2025-03-22 16:44:37
10 hours ago
China’s top diplomat has renewed his country’s call for free trade and regional cooperation amid broader “changes and chaos”, urging Japan and South Korea to deepen trust and communication.
After a meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Tokyo on Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the three countries should strengthen economic integration.
“[We] all agree that, in the context of an international situation that is intertwined with changes and chaos, as well as the sluggish recovery of the world economy, it is necessary for China, Japan and South Korea to further strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation and provide more stabilising factors for regional peace and development,” Wang said.
“We must unify efforts to promote regional economic integration ... maintain stable and smooth regional production and supply chains and maintain communication.
“We will uphold multilateralism and free trade, and promote economic globalisation in a more inclusive direction.”
The call followed talks on regional trade and security between Wang, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.
The meeting is one sign of improving ties between the countries brought on in part by the uncertainties of US President Donald Trump’s Indo-Pacific policy.
