Daijiworld Media Network - Seoul

Seoul, Mar 30: The trade ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan met in Seoul on Sunday for their first trilateral ministerial meeting in six years, aiming to enhance economic cooperation amid rising global trade tensions.

The 13th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting saw the participation of South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and Japanese Trade Minister Yoji Muto. The meeting, the first since 2019, follows last year’s summit of the three nations’ leaders.

Ahn highlighted the significance of the talks in the face of shifting global trade dynamics, stressing the need to create a "stable" trade environment and restore the role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). He also called for collaboration on emerging technologies, digital transformation, and supply chain security.

In a joint statement, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a "rules-based, open, and transparent" multilateral trading system, supporting WTO reforms to address current economic challenges. They also agreed to accelerate negotiations on a trilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and further advance the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a major trade pact involving the three nations.

Discussions also focused on strengthening supply chains, export controls, and promoting carbon-free energy technologies, including renewables, nuclear power, and hydrogen. The ministers pledged to cooperate on upcoming global events, including the Osaka Expo in April and the APEC summit in South Korea and China.

Following the trilateral meeting, Ahn held separate bilateral talks with his Japanese and Chinese counterparts. The next round of ministerial talks will take place in Japan.