On November 29, 2004, the 6th China-Japan-ROK Leaders' Meeting was held in Vientiane, the capital city of the Laos. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council, Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro and ROK President Roh Moo-hyun attended the meeting. The leaders mainly discussed the progress and development trend of China-Japan-ROK cooperation.
As for the cooperation between the three parties, Wen Jiabao said since the China-Japan-ROK Leaders' Meeting was launched in 1999, cooperation has been constantly strengthened which has promoted their common development and expanded their common interests, thus contributing greatly to the stability and development of Northeast Asia.
Wen Jiabao stressed the three countries need to give more inputs, consolidate the foundation, expand cooperation areas and pragmatically promote the three-party cooperation to a new level. To this end, it is necessary for the three parties to reach the following basic consensuses. First, to foster the concept of regional responsibility. The cooperation between the three countries should not only promote the stability and development of Northeast Asia, but also go hand in hand with the development of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) so as to achieve the long-term objective of East Asian cooperation. Second, to create an all-win situation through cooperation. We need to focus on our common interests, put aside differences and seek common grounds, show understanding to each other, update our ideas, explore more innovations so as to enhance consensus, promote cooperation and achieve common development to the maximum degree. Third, to release advantages and proceed gradually. We need to define key areas and priority for the three-party cooperation so as to start from the areas with good conditions and gradually expand to other areas.
To enhance the three-party talks, Wen Jiabao proposed: First, to enhance economic and trade cooperation level. New steps should be made in trade facilitation and liberalization to boost the integration of the three economies. Second, to strengthen social and cultural exchanges. The three countries need to continue to conduct activities with wide influence such as the Year for Personnel Exchange and the Cultural Year to further the cooperation between the media and enhance understanding and friendship between citizens, especially the youths. Third, to enhance regional policy dialogue. Regional cooperation has become a global trend and the cooperation in Asia, especially East Asia, has entered a critical period of development. The three countries need to strengthen communication and coordination.
Koizumi said the mechanism of Japan-China-ROK Leaders' Meeting has achieved positive results in promoting cooperation in various fields, in particular, economy despite the fact that it has not been established long. The Japanese side hopes that the three governments may give more inputs to strengthen cooperation in investment, the building of a free-trade area, finance, culture and personnel exchange so as to create an all-win situation.
Roh Moo-hyun positively appraised the achievements of the cooperation between the three countries in various fields. He said the three economies are getting increasingly interdependent. The ROK would like to develop and deepen cooperation with China and Japan in such areas as security, economy, science and technology.
The three leaders also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. Wen Jiabao indicated that to continue to promote the six-party talks complies with the interests of all parties involved and remains the common inspiration of the whole world. China would like to act as a mediator and, together with the international community, push forward the next round of talks to be held as early as possible.
The meeting approved the Strategies on the Actions of China, Japan and the ROK and the Report on the Progress of Cooperation between China, Japan and the ROK.