Fresh incentive for trilateral trade deal

Editor's Note: This year marks the 20th anniversary of China-Japan-Republic of Korea cooperation and China will host the eighth trilateral cooperation meeting later this year, which Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will reportedly attend. Columnist Niutanqin comments in a WeChat post:

Premier Li Keqiang met with Abe in Bangkok, Thailand, a day earlier during the 22nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus China, Japan and ROK leaders' meeting. Since last year, high-level meetings between Japan and China have strongly promoted the positive development of bilateral relations in the new era, and Japan is ready to strengthen dialogue and communication with China, deepen pragmatic cooperation and keep closer coordination in international and regional affairs, Abe said.

At a time when relations between Japan and the ROK are worsening, the holding of the trilateral leaders' meeting between the three Asian neighbors is inspiring and it will hopefully promote trilateral cooperation and jointly safeguard regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.