Japan's recovery from its March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster is also "in the interests of" South Korea and China, their trade ministers said.
The ministers of the three countries, who met in Tokyo during the weekend, said in joint statement the disaster has disrupted supply chains across the three countries and globally, Kyodo News reported. The statement said Japan's recovery is ''in the interests of all the three countries." It said the maintenance and development of a free and open trade system "will not only enormously support the recovery process of the stricken region of Japan but also effectively secure vigorous and sustainable growth of all three countries."
The meeting was held among South Korea's Kim Jong-hoon, Japan's Banri Kaieda, and China's Chen Deming. The three stressed the need to step up efforts for en early conclusion of talks for a trilateral agreement to facilitate investment.
Kyodo quoted Japanese officials as saying that Kaieda urged South Korea and China to react "calmly" over measures to restrict Japanese farm and other imports because of radiation concerns from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. The other two trade ministers said such restrictions were needed to ensure the safety of their people.
The three countries are set to hold a two-day trilateral summit next month in Tokyo.
