China, Japan, ROK hold 12th round of free trade talks

Top negotiators from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) met Thursday on pushing forward trade in goods and services as well as investment at the 12th round of talks on a trilateral free trade agreement (FTA).

Wang Shouwen (L), Chinese vice minister of commerce, Keiichi Katakami (C), Japan's deputy minister for foreign affairs, Lee Sang-jin, assistant minister of Republic of Korea Ministry of Trade, shake hands during the 12th round of talks on a trilateral free trade agreement in Tokyo, Japan, April 13, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Wang Shouwen, Chinese vice minister of commerce, said at the meeting that while global economy is facing a slowdown and uncertain future, and world trade and investment are encountering impediments, China's economic growth in the past decade underscores the fact that global trade has played and will continue to play a key role in driving the world economy.

Wang said that if China, Japan and ROK could make substantial headways in the FTA talks, it will send a positive signal to the world on anti-protectionism and safeguarding economic globalization.

The experiences gained from the talks on the trilateral FTA will also contribute to the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Chinese vice minister said.

Keiichi Katakami, Japan's deputy minister for foreign affairs, and Lee Sang-jin, assistant minister of ROK Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, attended the meeting.

Trilateral talks on China-Japan-ROK FTA, launched in November 2012, were aimed at forging a comprehensive, high-level and mutually beneficial free trade agreement with unique values.