Chinese Premier in Japan: Li Keqiang attends 7th China-Japan-South Korea leaders' meeting

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02:24

Earlier in the day, Premier Li Keqiang attended the 7th China-Japan-South Korea leaders' meeting. It was the first trilateral meeting after a two-and-a-half-year suspension. The three leaders discussed issues such as trade and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Terrence Terashima has more from Tokyo.

The trilateral leaders meeting, between China, South Korea and Japan, was a heavy door that Shinzo Abe had wanted to pry open for some time.

Experts say number of catalysts has made it possible.

The three neighbors share same pressure from Washington, as President Donald Trump seeks to reduce United States' trade deficits, which encouraged the three countries to accelerate regional free trade agreements, including trilateral FTA and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

LI KEQIANG CHINESE PREMIER "By opening our markets to one another at a wider level, our three sides can present tremendous opportunities to other parties, and also develop together with other parties."

Business leaders from the three nations also gathered in a business summit, to set course for greater investments and cooperation.

MOON JAE-IN SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT "The global economy is going through challenges, but I think that this is an opportunity for our three countries."

However, for Shinzo Abe, he had other interests.

Left watching the developments on the peace talks on the Korean Peninsula from the sidelines, Abe wanted to insert Japan's positions in the negotiations.

Abe felt uneasy at the pace, he feels as an unwarranted softening towards Pyongyang. He wanted to maintain pressures until concrete actions are made.

SHINZO ABE JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER "We must take the recent momentum towards denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and towards peace and security in Northeast Asia, and, cooperating even further with international society, make sure this is linked to concrete action by the DPRK."

Abe was advised by President Moon to open dialogue with Pyongyang. The leaders agree on tighter communications in achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

TERRENCE TERASHIMA TOKYO "However, analysts say this is only the first step. He is hoping to pave way for a regular shuttle diplomacy to accelerate trade talks and amending bilateral ties with China and South Korea. Terrence Terashima, CGTN Tokyo"