South Korea, Japan and China held the 13th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Seoul on Sunday. The three countries discussed strengthening economic cooperation, focusing on World Trade Organization (WTO) reform, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) membership expansion and advancing the ROK-Japan-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA). They also pledged to cooperate on supply chain stability, green and digital economy initiatives and upcoming international events, including the Osaka-Kansai Expo and APEC meetings in South Korea and China.

Separately, South Korea and Japan held a bilateral industrial and trade meeting to mark the 60th anniversary of normalizing diplomatic ties. The ministers discussed enhancing cooperation in advanced industries, hydrogen energy and key mineral supply chains, as well as responding jointly to changes in the global trade environment. Both countries committed to strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation, with a focus on maintaining predictable business environments and stabilizing critical supply chains.