Long-delayed China-Japan-South Korea leaders’ summit needed ‘as soon as possible’ as countries face ‘polycrisis’
- Head of trilateral organisation representing the countries tells Boao Forum that no nation can face current geopolitical challenges by themselves
- Key to peace in East Asia depends on cooperation between the regional neighbours, expert says
Cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea is more important than ever as the neighbours face a series of intertwined crises, according to the head of a trilateral organisation for the three countries.
“Any country cannot handle [these crises] by themselves … so the three countries and TCS need to facilitate trilateral cooperation as soon as possible,” he said.
Collaboration and solidarity should be boosted to confront global crises, and the resumption of a leaders’ summit this year – the first in four-and-a-half years – would carry special significance, Lee said at the forum, which runs until Friday.
“So we need to cooperate closely,” he said.
Lee did not provide an update on progress to revive the leaders’ summit, saying the three-way meeting would happen at a mutually convenient time, echoing a similar statement by the foreign ministers of the three countries in November. Lee said he hoped it would be held “in the near future”, adding that the three governments “have been preparing for it”.
