Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


           South Korea, Japan, China Hold First Talks in Three Years

   by VOA News

   The leaders of South Korea, China and Japan held their first three-way
   summit since 2012 as they attempt to put aside lingering disputes and
   resentments dating back decades.

   South Korean President Park Guen-hye hosted Japanese Prime Minister
   Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Seoul Sunday for a daylong
   meeting that is expected to focus on negotiations over a proposed
   trilateral free trade agreement.

   Park said as talks got under way, "Through today's trilateral meeting,
   it is hoped that we restore trilateral cooperation to normal, overcome
   barriers and challenges for co-operation together and build a sincere
   companion relationship so that we can build an order of peace and
   cooperation in Northeastern Asia."

   The three leaders are also expected to discuss reviving the
   long-dormant North Korean nuclear disarmament talks.

   President Park had refused to meet with Abe since first taking office
   in 2013, believing he has not properly atoned for his country's brutal
   occupation of the Korean peninsula in the first half of the 20th
   century, especially the sexual enslavement of Korean women by Japanese
   forces.

   Abe said Sunday, "Today, generalising all of our co-operation up to
   this point, I am trying to carry forward and give political momentum
   along with the other leaders, to take a new step into trilateral
   cooperation. Also, we would exchange honest opinions on the regional
   and international situation, an opportunity to deepen the trilateral
   cooperation."

   President Park will hold a one-on-one session with Abe on Monday.

   Another factor complicating relations in the region is a heated
   territorial dispute between Tokyo and Beijing over a group of islands
   in the East China Sea.

   Li said Sunday, "The fact that there is a need for compromise and
   handling of sensitive historical issues means that East Asia once again
   advances into a path of understanding. It is very unfortunate it is so
   difficult to have a deep comprehension between some countries even
   though we are very close countries (geographically). We hope we can
   enhance understanding for sustainable peace and prosperity, and walk
   the way of sufficient and sincere understanding and tolerance and make
   efforts (towards achieving that)."

   Park and Li held separats talks Saturday, where they agreed to work on
   ratifying a bilateral trade deal that has not been approved by South
   Korean lawmakers.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/asia-trilateral-summit/3031702.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/asia-trilateral-summit/3031702.html