Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said on Friday that China hopes to open new prospects of cooperation with Japan and South Korea.

Good relations among the three countries are mutually beneficial. And cooperation between China and Japan and between China and South Korea is good for regional peace, stability and development as well as the welfare of the peoples of the three countries, said Li at the fourth meeting of the China, Japan and South Korea Tripartite Committee in Philippines.

Li said that China, Japan and South Korea are countries with great influence in East Asia, and that relations between China and the other two countries have shown a good trend of development.

"We should grasp this good opportunity to increase political trust of the three countries and upgrade economic and trade cooperation level, as well as broaden the field of cooperation, in order to open new prospects of tripartite cooperation," he said.

Li's remarks were echoed by South Korean and Japanese officials at the meeting, said officials of the Chinese delegation.

At a working lunch with officials from India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday, the Chinese foreign minister said China wants to implement the agreement reached by leaders of these countries and China to seek cooperation in the fields of energy, finance, education, protection against bird flu and disaster relief in the region.

He also said China supports ASEAN in its effort to play a major role in East Asian summit meetings and a role in promoting East Asian regional cooperation, while keeping East Asian Summit as one with inclusive and open characteristics.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2007)