The first conference of the China-Korea Forum was convened in Beijing recently, in which scholars from the two countries held in-depth discussions around China-Japan-South Korea relations in the new era.

The attendees generally held the view that economic ties among the three countries are getting closer, with China being the top trading partner of both South Korea and Japan. Politically, the trio should seek to reduce divergences through trade and economic cooperation and better understand each other in a bid to promote further improvement in political relations.

Huang Dahui, deputy director of the School of International Studies at the Renmin University of China (RUC), spoke of the need for the three nations to forge closer ties. With China-Japan relations improving and returning to the right path, enhanced communication among the three countries will become necessary. In particular, efforts should be made to enable improvement in political relations through economic cooperation.

According to a professor at Keimyung University, China and South Korea should persist in developing friendly and cooperative relations, as China is a key economic partner of South Korea and relations with China are of great significance to South Korea.

Choo Jae-woo, a professor at Kyung Hee University, suggested that in anticipation of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea in 2022, the two sides should actively seek a relationship of win-win cooperation, jointly draw up a well-defined blueprint for mutual cooperation, and build common standards and understanding.

Wang Xingyu, a research fellow at the National Academy of Development and Strategy of RUC, said that China, Japan and South Korea need to put in place a multi-level, multi-channel communication mechanism over time. The three countries should have more cooperation in creating a China-Japan-South Korea free trade area and in accelerating the process of regional economic integration as they seek to make economic and trade cooperation an important foundation for improved political relations.