China, Japan, ROK stage another "good drama"

An eye-catching and fruitful Second Trilateral Leaders' Meeting of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) has been held in Beijing. It issued the Joint Statement on the Tenth Anniversary of Trilateral Cooperation and the Joint Statement on Sustainable Development among the Three Countries; it also set forth ten specific cooperation proposals. So, the meeting signifies new steps for trilateral cooperation and a new height for the three countries expected to reach.

To compare to the first meeting of leaders from China, Japan and the ROK outside the ASEA plus the China, Japan and ROK framework held in Fukuoka, Japan in 2008, the second trilateral leaders' meeting is imbued with brand-new new features against a somewhat different background.

First of all, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama pledged not to visit contentious Yasukuni Shrine during his recent national election race and, after assuming office, he said that "based on the spirit of 'yu-ai' or fraternity, he country would 'make utmost efforts'". On some vital historical issues, Hatoyama declared that his government would look squarely into the past history and inherit the guidelines of a speech by former Prime Minister Murayama Tomiichi. All this has won the positive appraisal of media in China and ROK and also created conditions for the improvement and enhancement of its ties with China and ROK and forging of the political mutual trust among the three East Asian neighbors.

The "East Asia community" envisaged by Prime Minister Hatoyama would be a community designed to deepen its mutually-dependent ties with China and South Korea and advance the integration of East Asian economy, which is quite different with the so-called East Asian community concept advocated by former Prime Minister Junichiro Kozumi, which was targeted to rope in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and to slight or give cold treatment to China and ROK.

According to Prime Minister Hatoyama, the object of his East Asia Community was to start with beefing up China-Japan-ROK economic cooperation. So, there is a world of difference between the two concepts in essence.

A background of vital importance is that world economy was seriously hit and undermined amid the worst US financial crisis of 2007-2009, and Japanese economy is of course no exception. Meanwhile, Chinese economy has retained a high, stable growth rate on the other hand, which has become one of the key engines or factors to stimulate Japan's economic recovery. Under such circumstances, Japanese voters swept the Democratic Party (DPJ) to power amid great global changes, transformations and adjustments. Therefore, Prime Minister Yokio Hatoyama has taken China as a partner for the win-win outcome, and regards its development as a great opportunity for his country.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made a two-day trip to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the eve of the trilateral meeting held in Beijing. During his visit, Wen conferred and reached important consensuses with DPRK leader Kim Jong Il on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. This has won a rare opportunity for the relaunch of the six-party talks through related bilateral talks and laid a vital basis in this regard.

Meanwhile, ROK President Lee Myung-bak recently also adjusted some of his government's policies toward North Korea by restoring the suspended tourism to MT. Geumgang and adopting flexible, substantial measures with the Kaesong Development Zone and provision of humanitarian aid with regard to DPRK. The trilateral meeting would facilitate China, Japan and ROK reaching consensuses on the non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through peaceful dialogue and consultations.

The three countries would work with other relevant parties to exert themselves for the relaunch of the six-party talks at an early date, and this will also be conducive for maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia and building a peaceful, harmonious, open and prosperous new Asia.

Regardless to say, either economic integration in East Asia or the non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is no plain sailing but could meet difficulties, obstacles and even setbacks. The meeting, however, has proven to the world that the three East Asian nations would strengthen confidence and work together to tide over hurdles so as to help maintain sustainable development of the East Asia region and strive for the regional, sustainable security through dialogue and consultation as well as peaceful cooperation.

By People's Daily Online and contributed by Professor Liu Jiangyong, a special PD guest commentator and an ace expert from the Institute of International Relations at elite Tsinghua University in Beijing.