China, Japan and the Republic of Korea should enhance exchanges and cooperation and make due contribution to help Asia out in face of the global financial crisis, said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Saturday.

Yang made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of China's parliament.

Yang noted that "trade among China, Japan and ROK is bigger than that among Britain, France and Germany. Moreover, the three countries are close neighbors sharing a strong historical bond in culture."

The foreign minister said the tripartite summit of China, Japan and ROK that was held in Japan last year was a "great success," while China will do what it can to be a good host for this year's summit.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2009)