[Full Text] Joint Declaration of the Korea-Japan-China Trilateral Summit... "Peace on the Korean Peninsula is a Shared Interest"

by Mun Jewon

Published 27 May.2024 15:46(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Premier Li Qiang of the State Council of China held the 9th Korea-Japan-China Summit on the 27th at the Blue House State Guesthouse and adopted a joint declaration. According to the joint declaration, the three countries agreed to regularize the summit meetings and reaffirmed that peace, stability, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia are common interests and shared responsibilities. They also agreed to accelerate negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and to create a free and open trade and investment environment.

The following is the full text of the joint declaration of the 9th Korea-Japan-China Trilateral Summit

President Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Premier Li Qiang of the People's Republic of China met in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on May 27, 2024, on the occasion of the 9th Trilateral Summit.

2. We recall that this year marks the 25th anniversary of trilateral cooperation and agree that the eight trilateral summits held since 2008 and the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), established in 2011, have provided a solid foundation for institutionalizing trilateral cooperation. We reaffirm our commitment to implementing the "Vision for Trilateral Cooperation for the Next Decade" adopted at the 8th Summit. We evaluate that trilateral cooperation has deepened in various fields, benefiting the three countries and their peoples and establishing itself as a meaningful platform for regional cooperation.

3. We reaffirm our commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and to an international order based on the rule of law and international law. In this context, we agree on the importance of states abiding by international law and their commitments under inter-state agreements.

4. We agree that the 9th Trilateral Summit holds significant meaning in revitalizing trilateral cooperation. Japan and China express appreciation for Korea’s efforts as the chair country to work closely with Japan and China to restore trilateral cooperation.

5. Recognizing that Korea, Japan, and China are neighboring countries sharing a long-standing history and an infinite future with great potential for cooperation in various fields, we particularly agree on the following three directions for the development of trilateral cooperation.

6. First, we will strive to institutionalize trilateral cooperation through the regular holding of trilateral summits and ministerial meetings and continue to promote the strengthening of the TCS’s capabilities.

7. Second, recognizing that the support of the peoples of the three countries is a vital driving force for deepening trilateral cooperation, we will endeavor to ensure that the peoples of the three countries can enjoy tangible benefits from trilateral cooperation.

8. To this end, we will actively identify and implement mutually beneficial cooperative projects centered on six key areas closely related to the daily lives of our peoples: human exchange, sustainable development through climate change response, economy and trade, health and aging, science and technology and digital transformation, and disaster relief and safety. We particularly agree that exchanges among future generations are crucial for solidifying the long-term foundation of trilateral cooperation and will seek to deepen cooperative ties in the field of exchanges among future generations.

9. Third, we will promote "Korea-Japan-China+X cooperation" to extend the benefits of trilateral cooperation to other countries, enabling the three countries to prosper together with other regions.

10. With these points in mind, we have decided as follows.

Institutionalization of Trilateral Cooperation

11. We recall that the first trilateral summit adopted the "Joint Statement for a Trilateral Partnership," deciding on the regular holding of trilateral summits, and that the sixth trilateral summit reaffirmed this in the "Joint Declaration for Northeast Asian Peace Cooperation." We reaffirm the necessity of holding trilateral summits and trilateral foreign ministers’ meetings regularly and without interruption for the further development of trilateral cooperation. We emphasize again that promoting the institutionalization of trilateral cooperation helps enhance bilateral relations among the three countries, promotes peace, stability, and prosperity in Northeast Asia, and contributes to pursuing a world where all countries, large and small, can universally benefit.

12. Furthermore, we will strengthen practical cooperation among the three countries through intergovernmental consultative bodies such as high-level and ministerial meetings in fields including education, culture, tourism, sports, trade, health, and agriculture. Through this, we have agreed to cooperate closely so that the peoples of the three countries can enjoy tangible benefits from trilateral cooperation.

Trilateral Cooperative Projects for the Peoples of the Three Countries

13. (Human Exchange) We note the need to revitalize human exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and trust, agreeing on the importance of promoting exchanges among all sectors, especially among future generations, to foster friendship and goodwill and thereby strengthen the foundation for future trilateral cooperation. We will also strive to increase human exchanges among the three countries to 40 million people by 2030 by promoting exchanges in culture, tourism, education, and other fields.

14. We recognize the importance of cooperation in education to promote exchanges among future generations and evaluate the exemplary role of the Campus Asia program, a university exchange program started in 2011, which has expanded its cooperation scope to ASEAN member universities. We note that the number of university students participating in this program has reached 15,000 and will actively support this program to achieve the target of 30,000 participating students by the end of 2030.

15. We agree that exchanges and the promotion of friendly relations among youth and young people of the three countries will be an important first step toward a brighter future for trilateral cooperation. To this end, we will continue various exchange programs such as the Korea-Japan-China Children’s Fairy Tale Exchange Contest, Junior Comprehensive Sports Games, University Student Diplomacy Camps, and Young Public Officials Exchange Programs. We also highly appreciate the efforts of the TCS in conducting various youth exchange programs, including youth mock summits, youth ambassador programs, and youth agricultural exchange programs.

16. Recognizing that culture serves as a bridge connecting the peoples of the three countries, we will continue to expand platforms where the peoples of the three countries can enhance mutual understanding and exchange through initiatives such as East Asia Cultural Cities, Korea-Japan-China Arts Festivals, and Korea-Japan-China Cultural Contents Industry Forums. We will also designate 2025-2026 as the years of cultural exchange among the three countries.

17. We welcome the launch of the Korea-Japan-China Vision Group by the TCS, which includes distinguished figures from the three countries, and look forward to constructive work and proposals from the group to further improve the trilateral process. We support the trilateral cooperation think tank network to enhance its relevance to trilateral cooperation. We also agree that public diplomacy plays an important role in promoting mutual understanding and deepening friendly relations among the peoples of the three countries.

18. (Sustainable Development through Climate Change Response, etc.) We reaffirm our commitment to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the importance of building a future of peace and prosperity where humanity and the Earth coexist harmoniously. We recognize the need for cooperation in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, carbon neutrality, and transitioning to a green economy and society. We welcome the adoption of the joint statement at the 24th Trilateral Environment Ministers’ Meeting held in November 2023 and will continue our cooperation in the eight priority areas. We also welcome the adoption of the joint statement at the 4th Trilateral Water Ministers’ Meeting held in May 2024, reaffirming commitments to water cooperation among the three countries to respond to climate change and build climate-resilient water infrastructure.

19. We will take concrete measures to achieve the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement and support related efforts to respond to the climate crisis during this decisive decade, reflecting the results of the first global stocktake, and prepare ambitious next nationally determined contributions. We will also contribute to global efforts for a transition to clean, sustainable, and affordable energy through various channels.

20. Regarding the reduction of East Asian yellow dust, we will cooperate with Mongolia within the framework of "Korea-Japan-China+X cooperation." We will promote cooperation for marine environmental conservation to achieve marine sustainability for future generations. We will work together to complete the work of the 5th Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting to be held in Busan, Korea, in November 2024, aiming to establish a binding international agreement on plastic pollution.

21. Recognizing our commitment to ending Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, one of the most serious threats to marine biological resource conservation and sustainable use, we will take strong and effective measures through various means to prevent, deter, and eradicate IUU fishing. We pledge to promptly, fully, and effectively implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

22. (Economy and Trade) We share the recognition that joint efforts among the three countries in the economic and trade sectors play an important role in the prosperity and stability of the regional and global economy. We will work to reduce regional development gaps and achieve common development.

23. We reaffirm our support for an open, transparent, inclusive, non-discriminatory, and rules-based multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization (WTO). We commit to reforming and strengthening all WTO functions, including establishing a fully functioning and smooth dispute settlement system by 2024. We call on all WTO members to support the incorporation of the Joint Declaration Initiative on Investment Facilitation into the legal framework and strive for the swift conclusion of negotiations on the Joint Declaration Initiative on E-commerce.

24. Recognizing the importance of ensuring transparent, smooth, and effective implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as the foundation of the trilateral free trade agreement, we will continue discussions to accelerate negotiations on the trilateral FTA aiming for a free, fair, comprehensive, and high-level mutually beneficial FTA with its own unique value. Reaffirming that RCEP is an open and inclusive regional cooperation, we encourage the RCEP Joint Committee to accelerate discussions on the accession procedures for new members.

25. We will continue efforts to create a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive, and predictable trade and investment environment, ensuring fair global competition opportunities. We also reaffirm our commitment to maintaining market openness, strengthening supply chain cooperation, and avoiding supply chain disruptions. We agree on the need to continue communication in the field of export controls. We welcome the 2024 Trilateral Entrepreneurs Forum. We will continuously develop cooperation platforms, including the Yellow Sea Economic and Technological Exchange Conference, and continue to encourage regional-level cooperation.

26. Recognizing the importance of enhancing regional financial cooperation, we welcome progress made at the ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, especially the approval of the establishment of a rapid financing facility using eligible freely convertible currencies under the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM). We also welcome progress related to the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office, Asian bond market development plans, and disaster risk finance. We reaffirm our commitment and support to enhance the effectiveness of CMIM as a regional financial safety net and encourage finance ministers and central bank governors to seek a more robust resource structure and actively discuss various resource structure methods with ASEAN countries as well as among the three countries.

27. We will utilize the ASEAN+3 cooperation fund to support startups, including holding information exchange symposiums for startups from Korea, Japan, China, and ASEAN member countries. We recognize the importance of implementing the ASEAN+3 Leaders’ Statement on building an electric vehicle ecosystem.

28. Noting that at the 23rd Trilateral Patent Offices Meeting among the Korean Intellectual Property Office, Japan Patent Office, and China National Intellectual Property Administration, the three countries agreed to expand cooperation to new technology fields and pursue "Korea-Japan-China+X Intellectual Property Cooperation" to broaden our cooperation, we adopted the "Joint Statement on the 10-Year Vision for Trilateral Intellectual Property Cooperation" on the occasion of this summit.

29. (Health and Aging) Recognizing the important role of trilateral cooperation in the health sector, including cooperation on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, we adopted the "Joint Statement on Future Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response" at this summit. As agreed at the 16th Trilateral Health Ministers Meeting held in December 2023, we will enhance cooperation among public health institutions responsible for disease control in the three countries through the Korea-Japan-China Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Forum and joint symposiums to manage health emergencies, including infectious diseases.

30. Furthermore, we will jointly address the common challenges of low birthrates and aging populations faced by the three countries. To realize and sustain universal health coverage, through exchanges among governments and experts, we will share expertise on policies for healthy aging, including technology development, workforce training, medical and long-term care, and income security.

31. (Science and Technology and Digital Transformation) Recognizing the growing importance of scientific and technological cooperation, including artificial intelligence (AI), we will endeavor to resume the trilateral science and technology ministers’ meetings and information and communication ministers’ meetings.

32. We note the need for prompt responses to the potential impacts of AI on human daily life and the importance of mutual communication on AI-related matters. We note the Korean government’s hosting of the AI Seoul Summit in May 2024, contributing to establishing global governance for safe, secure, trustworthy, innovative, inclusive, and responsible AI.

33. We share the importance of scientific and innovation cooperation to enhance research capabilities and competitiveness in industrial technology and recognize the importance of academic exchanges among researchers and joint research and development in areas such as green and low-carbon societies.

34. (Disaster Relief and Safety) We will resume the trilateral disaster management agency chiefs’ meetings and counter-terrorism consultations at an appropriate time to create a safer environment for the peoples of the three countries. Recognizing the importance of women’s participation and leadership in disaster response and damage mitigation, we will promote trilateral cooperation on women, peace, and security agendas, including dialogues with ASEAN member countries. Furthermore, we will strengthen cooperation through the trilateral police cooperation meetings to prevent and crack down on transnational crimes, including fraud and drug-related crimes.

[Regional and International Peace and Prosperity]

35. We reaffirm that peace, stability, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia are our common interests and shared responsibilities. We reiterate our positions on regional peace and stability, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and the abduction issue. We will continue positive efforts for a political resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue.

36. Recognizing that trilateral cooperation has developed in close relation with ASEAN, we agree on the necessity for the three countries to continue expanding trilateral cooperation within the ASEAN framework, including ASEAN+3, the East Asia Summit, and the ASEAN Regional Forum. We also express our strong support for ASEAN centrality and unity. We appreciate the efforts of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the ASEAN chair in 2024.

37. As the three countries are important responsible countries for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asian region and are serving together as members of the United Nations Security Council in 2024, we reaffirm that we will communicate closely not only within the trilateral cooperation framework but also in multilateral cooperation frameworks such as the UN Security Council. In this context, we will work for the successful hosting of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Korea. We also support Japan’s 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo and China’s hosting of the 9th Winter Asian Games in Harbin in 2025.