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Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji presided over the talks between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in Phnom Penh Monday with a view to enhancing economic cooperation between them as well as their cooperation with ASEAN.
Premier Zhu, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and ROK Prime Minister Kim Suk Soo all agreed that their talks have increased mutual understanding and trust among them, which will be conducive to moving forward the relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the one hand and China, Japan and the ROK on the other, or the 10+3 process.
Zhu put forward some proposals on future cooperation among the three countries, including identifying key areas of cooperation.
He suggested that the three countries divert their future cooperation to the areas of economy and trade, IT industry, environmental protection, human resources development and cultural cooperation.
Zhu proposed to his Japanese and ROK counterparts that a feasibility study on establishing the China-Japan-ROK Free Trade Zone be activated at a proper time.
This will help increase the tripartite cooperation in economy and trade and leave a positive impact on the economic integration in East Asia, said the Chinese premier.
Zhu also proposed enhancing policy coordination within the 10+3framework while the three countries expressed their support for ASEAN in playing a core role, so as to boost the development of East Asian cooperation.
Meanwhile, Zhu suggested that the monitoring and curbing of sand storms be taken as a common cooperation project among the three countries.
Zhu called for facilitating businessmen of the three countries in getting an easier access to visa, so as to ensure more convenient exchanges of personnel.
The Chinese premier also suggested holding a high-level seminar among the media of the three countries next year to intensify their cooperation.
Koizumi and Kim Suk Soo gave their support for and positive response to Premier Zhu's suggestions and proposals.
They hoped to expand and deepen the cooperation among the three countries through various mechanisms of cooperation.
South Korea voiced its views on enhancing environmental protection, exchange of personnel, and the exchanges in academy, culture, sports and tourism.
Both Koizumi and Kim Suk Soo expressed their grave concern about the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsular.
Premier Zhu explained China's principled stance on this issue.
The three leaders voiced their support for creating a nuclear-free Korean peninsular, maintaining peace and stability on the peninsular, and resolving the existing problems through peaceful dialogue.
(eastday.com November 4, 2002)
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