Top negotiators from China, Japan and South Korea have met in Beijing for talks on ramping up trade and investment. It's the fourteenth round of meetings between the three East Asian neighbors, and as CGTN's Liu Yang explains, negotiations are gathering speed.

Negotiations for a trade deal between China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are underway in Beijing. Together the three economies account for more than 20 percent of global GDP. China's Vice Minister Wang Shouwen emphasized the goal of talks.

WANG SHOUWEN, DEPUTY MINISTER MINISTRY OF COMMERCE "We have good reason to believe that it is time for the three countries to accelerate negotiations, the three countries have the common political will to accelerate negotiations. China, Japan, and Korea are close neighbors and complementary industrial strength, further opening up domestic markets will enable more efficient allocations and resources."

Some experts argue, as trade protectionism and unilateralism are on the rise around the world, globalization and the free trade system are under attack, and the risks and challenges are intensifying.

YOO MYUNG-HEE, DIRECTOR GENERAL MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY, AND ENERGY OF REPUBLIC OF KOREA "I would like to emphasize the importance of CJKFTA for responding to rising global protectionism and also promoting international trade and supply chain. If we succeed through the FTA among our three countries, which account for 1/4 of the GDP, we will be able to turn the challenges that we are currently facing into new opportunities."

The establishment of a free trade agreement is seen as one of the important paths to promote economic integration in East Asia.

KAZUYUKI YAMAZAKI, SENIOR DEPUTY MINISTER MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN "Japan's determination to exercise leadership as a standard bearer of free and fair trade is unwavering in the multi-lateral, regional, and bilateral context. First and foremost, multi-lateral free trade order based on the WTO system should be further strengthened, including through its reform."

The three sides agreed that the FTA between is conducive to accelerating economic integration in east Asia, promoting further integration of regional industrial chains, and bringing new opportunities to enterprises of the three countries.

LIU YANG BEIJING "A joint declaration issued after a trilateral leaders' meeting in May said they should look to accelerate their FTA negotiations. They said they were looking to reach a comprehensive, high-level and mutually beneficial free-trade agreement. Then, last month, in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed accelerating the negotiation process even further."

The trilateral talks for a China-Japan-ROK free trade agreement launched in November 2012. This latest round of talks in Beijing is proof the countries are committed to achieving a deal.

Liu Yang, CGTN, Beijing.