On October 28, 2024, a meeting of senior officials from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) was held in Tokyo, Japan. Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Funakoshi Takehiro, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of the ROK Chung Byung-won, and Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat Lee Hee-sup attended the meeting.

Sun Weidong said that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of China-Japan-ROK cooperation. The three countries should keep to the original aspiration of cooperation, take mutual respect and trust as the fundamental guidance, maintain bilateral relations, and strengthen the political foundation of trilateral cooperation. The three countries should take institutionalization as an important support, use what is available effectively and create the increment wisely, and enhance cooperation in various fields. With the long-term goal of openness and win-win outcomes, the three sides should restart negotiations on the China-Japan-ROK Free Trade Agreement, and unleash the potential for economic and trade cooperation. The three sides should seize the opportunity of scientific and technological innovation, nurture and expand emerging industries, and inject new impetus into the high-quality development of the three countries. Based on people-to-people connectivity, the three countries should expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges and enhance mutual understanding and perception. The three sides should address social changes and challenges together, promote sustainable development, and work together to create a new chapter in China-Japan-ROK cooperation.

During the meeting, the three sides reviewed the progress of trilateral cooperation among China, Japan and the ROK, and had an in-depth exchange of views on the preparation work for the next trilateral high-level meeting. The three sides unanimously agreed that deepening trilateral cooperation among China, Japan and the ROK is in the common interest of the three countries. The three sides should maintain the momentum of cooperation, join hands to strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, continuously expand the convergence of interests, jointly make bigger the pie of cooperation, bring better benefits for the people of the three countries through trilateral cooperation, and make contributions to the peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the world at large.

After the meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi met collectively with the three countries' representatives who attended the China-Japan-ROK senior officials' meeting.