Three neighbors give added impetus to regional progress

Although ties have been strained in recent times by their territorial and historical disputes, leaders of Japan, China and the Republic of Korea struck a more harmonious note in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Which is not surprising as the trilateral summit came hard on the heels of the positive progress that has been made in efforts to bring the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in from the cold. And the efforts Beijing and Tokyo had been making to build on their shared interests to kick-start their stalled relations.

Indeed, when Premier Li Keqiang, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and ROK President Moon Jae-in sat down for talks, the portents for joint efforts to promote regional peace and stability and greater economic integration were the most promising they have been for years.