Experts from China, Japan and South Korea attending a regional forum?in Busan?on Sunday called for closer cooperation among the three countries in tackling the global financial crisis.

The proposal was made at the fourth session of the Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum, a regional platform with political, business and academic experts from the three countries.

Vice President of China's Xinhua News Agency Zhou Xisheng (R), Lee Hong-koo (C), former prime minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Ryoki Sugita (L), head of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Japanese Economic News Press), attend the opening ceremony of the Forum of Northeast Asian Prominent Figures, in Pusan, ROK, April 12, 2009. The fourth Forum of Northeast Asian Prominent Figures was opened on Sunday in Pusan. [Xie Chengyu/Xinhua]

In his speech to the forum, former Chinese vice premier Qian Qichen said that the issues of the financial crisis, energy security, environmental protection and climate change have been interwoven and become global challenges, and no country alone can counter these challenges.

China, Japan and South Korea are major forces in maintaining world financial stability and promoting global growth, and the most pressing task is to work together to take every necessary measure to curb the spread of the crisis and mitigate its impact on economic growth and market stability, he said.

Vice President of China's Xinhua News Agency Zhou Xisheng (R) talks with Lee Hong-koo, former prime minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK), during the opening ceremony of the Forum of Northeast Asian Prominent Figures, in Pusan, ROK, April 12, 2009. The fourth Forum of Northeast Asian Prominent Figures was opened on Sunday in Pusan. [Xie Chengyu/Xinhua]?

Former Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone suggested in his speech that experts from the three countries form a group to search for a solution to the world financial crisis.

Former South Korean prime minister Lee Hong-koo said the consensus on building new world orders in politics, economy and other fields needs to be more broadly shared so as to better tackle the crisis that all are faced with.

The forum will focus on cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan in dealing with the world financial crisis, which will lay a good foundation for the further development of ties among the three countries, Lee said.

The Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum is a yearly event cosponsored by the Xinhua News Agency of China, the Nikkei news group of Japan and leading South Korean daily Joong Ang Ilbo, and gathers prominent figures from all walks of life in the three countries.

This year's meeting is set to discuss global financial risks, environment, energy and culture.

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2009)