Korea, China and Japan likely to hold summit later this month

Korea is in final consultations with China and Japan to hold a trilateral summit later this month, according to Seoul's Foreign Ministry, the first of its kind in over four years.

From left, then President Moon Jae-in, former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pose for a photo during a trilateral summit in Cheongdu, China, on Dec. 24, 2019. [YONHAP]

Korea is in final consultations with China and Japan to hold a trilateral summit later this month, according to Seoul's Foreign Ministry, the first of its kind in over four years.

The three countries' leaders are likely to meet in Seoul over May 26 and 27, said a Foreign Ministry official Saturday, noting that the three countries have mutually agreed to hold a summit "at the earliest convenient date."

President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to host the long-stalled trilateral meeting, inviting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang to the country, as Korea is the current rotating chair. The Chinese premier traditionally attends the summit rather than the president.

Korea, as the chair of the upcoming summit, has been in consultations with Japan and China to speed along the meeting, according to the official.

The remarks come after Japanese media reported Friday that a three-way summit was likely on those dates, citing diplomatic sources.

The trilateral summit between the Northeast Asian countries, first launched in December 2008, was last held in Chengdu in December 2019, when China chaired.

The three-way summit was suspended since then due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a deterioration in Seoul-Tokyo relations over historical issues stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule over Korea and a trade spat.

During a visit to Sao Paulo, Brazil, Kishida said in a press conference Saturday that a schedule for a three-way summit "has not been decided at the moment."

However, he said that Japan supports Korea's efforts as the summit chair.

The upcoming three-way summit is expected to discuss the situation in East Asia, North Korea issues and economic cooperation between the three countries.

It could also be an opportunity to discuss ways to improve Seoul-Beijing relations, which have been strained as the Yoon administration has favored stronger trilateral cooperation with Washington and Tokyo.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]