More Americans See China as World’s Leading Economic Power

[Jlaw]

Again, more academic language that ignores the fact that Japan, by her own admission, is expanding it's military as a direct result of China's strategic and military expansion throughout Asia, that is part of a new Asian arms race caused by China, that I KNOW you cannot be ignorant of as even here on PDF, there are numerous threads on that topic that you, yourself, have commented on! Yes, Japan in some areas, sees China as a partner....so does the United States, but that cannot disguise the fact that there is currently a massive new arms race going on in country after country in Asia, including Japan, from South Korea to the countries bordering the South China Sea, all the way to Australia, all as a direct result of China's actions and policies.

Arms race by China? China spends less than 2% on its military budget each year. In reality military spending vs GDP, China's spending is low. As for an Asian arms race, China's military spending is not to counter Asian countries. I'm sure you are aware of this . If other Asian countries in the region feel threatened, they can enter this "Asian Arms Race" and buy more American weapons.

 

[Desertfalcon]

If other Asian countries in the region feel threatened, they can enter this "Asian Arms Race" and buy more American weapons.

They do feel so and they are doing so, and not just American weapons. I am just stating an obvious fact.

 

[ZY-CN-CA]

No kidding. It was not long ago that Japan was the feared economic rival to America. Headlines of Japanese buying Rockefeller Center, movies like Rising Sun (1993), etc. were all part of that phenomenon. Now, Japan is scarcely mentioned in American culture, despite the fact that Japan is still the third largest economy in the world after America and China. Perception...

you are right. we have lot of problem but we try to change.In my view,We don't listen to US, we should pay attention, like 93 years of Japan's Plaza Accord, 89 years of the Soviet Union, and now the RMB(now to Chinese economic trap). The United States and Europe is the interests of supremacy, anyway be careful，be careful，be careful

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

We would much prefer to stick with economic cooperation but China is pushing country after country in the region, to escalate...including yours.

You make it sound like we invaded 3 countries in the past decade alone (Iraq/Afghanistan/Libya) while conducting airstrikes and drone strikes in countless other countries like Syria, Yemen and Pakistan!

Can you tell me when was the last time China used a missile to kill people in another country?

The disputes we have in the South China Sea involve ZERO bloodshed. That's right, not a single person has been killed by our military forces there.

I know the idea of avoiding any bloodshed seems laughable to some though.

 

[Desertfalcon]

You make it sound like we invaded 3 countries in the past decade alone (Iraq/Afghanistan/Libya) while conducting airstrikes and drone strikes in countless other countries like Syria, Yemen and Pakistan!

Can you tell me when was the last time China used a missile to kill people in another country?

The disputes we have in the South China Sea involve ZERO bloodshed. That's right, not a single person has been killed by our military forces there.

I know the idea of avoiding any bloodshed seems laughable to some though.

Your argument is not with me, sir. I am just the messenger. If you have a problem with why countries like Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, etc., that are engaged in an arms build-up in what they state is a response to China's policies and actions, I suggest you take it up with them.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Your argument is not with me, sir. I am just the messenger. If you have a problem with why countries like Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, etc., that are engaged in an arms build-up in what they state is a response to China's policies and actions, I suggest you take it up with them.

Arms buildup is fine. Since those weapons are not actively being used to kill people in any war.

We only spend 1.4% of GDP on defence, the lowest % spending by far of the top 5 defence spenders. We are not at war with any country, we don't aim to be, and this has been the case for the past few decades.

Our military forces are not causing bloodshed in every corner of the globe. They are a defensive force, the only time they will be used is when any country is stupid enough to attack us directly.

The South China Sea is completely free from bloodshed. The exact opposite of the Middle East and North Africa region.

 

[Desertfalcon]

Arms buildup is fine.

Your neighbours would beg to differ but again, your argument is with them and not me, as much as you want to shift it to the Middle-East.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Your neighbours would beg to differ but again, your argument is with them and not me, as much as you want to shift it to the Middle-East.

Like I said, I have zero problems with our neighbours improving their militaries. In fact I believe all patriots should support the strengthening of their national defence sectors. We aren't going to fight anyway, so what is the difference?

Especially when those weapons are NOT actually being used to kill anyone. In that case they are simply another form of economic activity.

In this region we have peace. No cruise missiles hitting hospitals, no soldiers firing bullets at other soldiers, no bombing runs and air strikes. All the weapons are sitting peacefully in their silos. Nobody is getting killed by them.

 

[Desertfalcon]

Like I said, I have zero problems with our neighbours improving their militaries. In fact I believe all patriots should support the strengthening of their national defence sectors. We aren't going to fight anyway, so what is the difference?

Especially when those weapons are NOT actually being used to kill anyone. In that case they are simply another form of economic activity.

In this region we have peace. No cruise missiles hitting hospitals, no soldiers firing bullets at other soldiers, no bombing runs and air strikes. All the weapons are sitting peacefully in their silos. Nobody is getting killed by them.

Nope, won't work with me. Start a new thread if you want to talk about your own topic.

 

[gambit]

1. Soviet front was if anything but irrational. Considering the high probability of US joining the WW2. It was but a given that Axis powers will loose WW2 when faced against two large Industrial Nations.

2. The actions of Hitler were rooted in his irrational psyche. The objectives of Germany in WW2 were not at all realistic. When the leader and in this case the Dictator at the helm himself was an unstable individual it would not be a stretch to assume that many of the strategic decision themselves were irrational. I conceded that German Commanders and the forces were top notch and made brilliant tactical decisions in many cases but they were let down by faulty leadership at the top.

3. The world today is vastly different. There is much greater connectivity of economies due to globalization of labor forces and exponential improvements in communications and travel. It would be a folly to think that the things will play out the same way as in the 30s and 40s.

I was there when the Berlin Wall came down. All of us in the squadron room served time in Europe at one time or another, and some of us, myself include, actually been to East Berlin when it existed. We were in semi shock watching the news showing people clambering over the wall from either side. The only things muttered by anyone in that room were profanities as expressions of disbelief.

Later that week, our squadron CO had a lunch mini meeting, officers and enlisted, out in the BBQ area to inform some who did not saw the news and to open the subject for discussion as he believed the next few yrs will have direct effects on the US military in general. Speculations ranged from war including up to nuclear as the Kremlin struggles to keep the Soviet empire together to civil war inside Russia, to global peace as the Earthlings finally learned that democracy and capitalism was right all along, and everyone would eventually hold hands and sing 'Kumbaya' in the spirit of brotherly love.

I, our CO who was of Cuban descent, and a few others were of the minority view that while open war between Russia and the ideological victors would not occur, the world will not change at all. There would be no evolution into higher consciousness. When a country was proved wrong and a failure, those who were in charge of that failed country, as history so amply have, do not fall to their knees and repent of their sins. They either fight to preserve their status in that country or they flee and the country they once ruled fell into civil war.

The equivalents of your argument were there, that most believed that our world, our generation, is different than that of our ancestors'. Knowledge travels faster and wider. Economies are more interrelated. Human rights, or our version of them, are often copied.

Did the world really changed ?

I agree with the later half of your assessment. One thing though should be noted that there is no grand design which China is pursuing at this stage. The current happenings are merely testing of waters and gaging the strength and will of the adversary. This is a precursor to over-arching strategy.

I disagree. China does have a grand design and strategies to execute that design.

Under the school of realism, contestant major powers are restrained by borders, populations, and economies. The last two items, population and economy, are, and have always been, strong indicators of latent power, which translate to potential power, which finally manifest into physical power.

The goal of every state is survival and every state have a calculus of its odds of survival inside the system that it is membered. If a state believes, however it came to that conclusion, that its odds of survival is low, it must subject itself to a superior power for protection and a higher assurance of survival. Of course, there are political consequences to that alliance. That mean every state inside the system must either strive to be powerful enough to deter aggression or if possible achieve breakout status into a great power and hopefully a hegemon. Thousands of yrs of human history proved this to be true over and over.

The US was not constrained by borders, had a growing population, and given the vast continental territory still economically unexplored, the US had virtually no obstacles to becoming a hegemon in the North American system. Today, about %80 of Canadians lives with 3-4 hrs drive to the US-Canada border. Why not the rest of Canada not developed like the US ? Simply put -- too damn cold. Mexico was constrained by its own geography, developmental issues, and lesser population. In other words, the US was destined to become a system hegemon without having to contest anyone else for that status.

China have two out three. She shares borders with 14 other countries and unlike the US that is protected by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the water that bordered her failed to protect her from Imperial JPN. Water is a powerful protector. Look at how 100 miles of water deterred Nazi Germany from an invasion of England. But if there is a determined foe, that protection can be defeated. Everyone know that if the US wanted, the Cuban Missile Crisis could have resulted in a bloody invasion with most of the blood from the Cubans. Similar for an invasion of Taiwan with China the inevitable victor.

That leave population and latent economic wealth as how China could break out of being a mere member of a system, into a major power which she already is, into a great power which she is already on that road, and eventually into a system hegemon. Being a hegemon is the most assured state of survival so why would China NOT exploit that opening ? Probes of other contestants' will and capabilities are components of that calculus.

China does have a grand design for herself and for Asia.

 

[Aepsilons]

Again, more academic language that ignores the fact that Japan, by her own admission, is expanding it's military as a direct result of China's strategic and military expansion throughout Asia, that is part of a new Asian arms race caused by China, that I KNOW you cannot be ignorant of as even here on PDF, there are numerous threads on that topic that you, yourself, have commented on! Yes, Japan in some areas, sees China as a partner....so does the United States, but that cannot disguise the fact that there is currently a massive new arms race going on in country after country in Asia, including Japan, from South Korea to the countries bordering the South China Sea, all the way to Australia, all as a direct result of China's actions and policies.

Japan-China Summit Meeting and Foreign Ministers Meeting

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  Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
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  Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
• 

Confirmation of the political will on both sides to further improve the Japan-China relationship and of the direction of the improvement
At the meeting, the two leaders shared the view that Japan and China had a major responsibility for the peace and prosperity of the region and the international community, and that it was needed to add momentum to the current trend of the improvement of the Japan-China relationship. The two leaders identified the following points as the basic direction of further improvement based on the ''Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests.'' (Note: The wording of the following points is not negotiated between Japan and China. They are the points of convergence about the general direction the two countries would take.)

(i) Adopt positive policies reciprocally, and jointly promote the improvement of the relationship.
(ii) Address issues of concern based on past agreements between Japan and China.
(iii) In particular, translate a commitment in the 2008 Joint Statement to be ''partners who cooperate together and are not threats to each other'' into concrete policies.
(iv) Further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the economic fields and other areas.
(2) Specific outcomes
The two leaders also concurred on the following points as specific outcomes of this meeting.

• Resume the mutual visit of the Foreign Ministers, confirming the importance of the mutual visit and other high-level exchanges.
• Hold the Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue early next year.
• Reinforce mutual efforts to achieve the early commencement of the implementation of the '''Maritime and Aerial Communication Mechanism between the Japan-China defense authorities.''
• Aim to resume talks based on the ''2008 agreement'' on the issue of resources development in the East China Sea.
• Deepen economic and financial cooperation.

(3) Other issues
In addition, the two leaders expressed their views on various issues and problems between the two countries and carried out a frank exchange of views.



Japan-China Summit Meeting and Foreign Ministers Meeting ｜ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Again, more academic language that ignores the fact that Japan, by her own admission, is expanding it's military as a direct result of China's strategic and military expansion throughout Asia, that is part of a new Asian arms race caused by China, that I KNOW you cannot be ignorant of as even here on PDF, there are numerous threads on that topic that you, yourself, have commented on! Yes, Japan in some areas, sees China as a partner....so does the United States, but that cannot disguise the fact that there is currently a massive new arms race going on in country after country in Asia, including Japan, from South Korea to the countries bordering the South China Sea, all the way to Australia, all as a direct result of China's actions and policies.

Joint Declaration for Peace and Cooperation in Northeast Asia



We, the Leaders of the Republic of Korea, Japan and the People’s Republic of China, convened in Seoul, Korea on November 1, 2015, on the occasion of the Sixth Trilateral Summit.

We appreciated that trilateral cooperation, since its inception in 1999, has developed through the regular holding of the Trilateral Summits in the three countries since 2008, independently from the ASEAN+3 Summit; that such cooperation has been further institutionalized through the establishment of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) in 2011; and that there has been progress towards the realization of the visions set forth in the Joint Declarations/Statements of the Leaders of the three countries, including Trilateral Cooperation VISION 2020.

Acknowledging that steady progress has been made in trilateral cooperation in various areas despite fluid situations in the Northeast Asian region in recent years, we shared the view that trilateral cooperation has been completely restored on the occasion of this Summit, held almost three and a half years after the Fifth Trilateral Summit held in May 2012. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, and Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, expressed appreciation for the efforts made by Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea, the chair country, to restore trilateral cooperation during the past years.

We reached the common recognition that the situation in which economic interdependence and political/security tensions coexist must be overcome in order to build permanent peace, stability and co-prosperity in the region, and to continue to develop trilateral cooperation unwaveringly.

To this end, we came to the recognition that respective bilateral ties among the three countries constitute an important foundation for trilateral cooperation, and that the deepening of trilateral cooperation, in turn, contributes to each bilateral relations and to the peace, stability, and prosperity of the Northeast Asian region. In the spirit of facing history squarely and advancing towards the future, we agreed that the three countries should address related issues properly and to work together to improve bilateral relations and to strengthen trilateral cooperation.

With this in mind, we have decided as follows:

REALIZING PEACE AND COOPERATION IN NORTHEAST ASIA
1 Affirming that the deepening of trilateral cooperation will contribute to the stable development of respective bilateral ties among the three countries and to the realization of peace, stability and prosperity in Northeast Asia, we will further institutionalize trilateral cooperation and develop the process of dialogue and cooperation.

2 We reaffirmed that the Trilateral Summit is to be held on a regular basis in the three countries, as specified in the 2008 Joint Statement for Tripartite Partnership. To broaden the scope of trilateral cooperation, we decided to encourage a more active promotion of over 50 intergovernmental consultative mechanisms, including about 20 ministerial-level mechanisms, as well as numerous cooperative projects, and to promote the creation of new intergovernmental consultative mechanisms, including ministerial-level mechanisms.

3 Speaking highly of the efforts made by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) in advancing trilateral cooperation, we expressed support for the capacity-building of the TCS by its participation in all ministerial-level consultative mechanisms within the framework of trilateral cooperation. Accordingly, we shared the view that the creation of a Trilateral Cooperation Fund (TCF) will be instrumental for the development of trilateral cooperation projects.

4 We appreciated the various endeavors made so far to promote regional cooperation, and decided to make joint efforts to achieve the common goal of building regional trust and cooperation. In this regard, the Leaders of Japan and the People’s Republic of China highly appreciated and welcomed, and agreed to further develop the Republic of Korea’s “Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative” (NAPCI) aimed to build trust in the region through dialogue and cooperation. We appreciated that the various cooperation projects discussed at the Second High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on NAPCI held in October, 2015 will contribute to expanding trilateral cooperation by strengthening trust in the region, and we will continue to pursue high-level meetings relevant to NAPCI.

5 Referring to the Cooperation on Nuclear Safety adopted at the Fourth Trilateral Summit in 2011, we reached the common recognition that we will continue trilateral consultations on nuclear safety. In this regard, we appreciated the discussions at the 8th Top Regulators’ Meeting and the 3rd TRM+ Meeting (International Forum on Northeast Asia Nuclear Safety Cooperation) held in October 2015, and we will, building on progress thus made, continue to strengthen our cooperation through enhanced regional cooperation process in the field of civil nuclear safety.

6 Referring to the Cooperation on Disaster Management adopted at the Fourth Trilateral Summit in 2011, we will strengthen cooperation among the three countries to enhance disaster prevention and disaster relief capabilities. We appreciated the success of the Trilateral Table-Top Exercise on Disaster Management (TTX) hosted by the TCS, and welcomed the participation of interested countries such as the United States, Russia and Mongolia in April 2015. We welcomed the outcomes of the Trilateral Joint Statement on Disaster Management Cooperation in October 2015. Acknowledging that Japan submitted a proposal of the resolution to establish the World Tsunami Day to the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly, we raise awareness of threats and measures against tsunamis through the collaboration among the three countries, in order to mitigate damage caused by tsunamis in the international community.

EXPANDING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COOPERATION FOR CO-PROSPERITY
7 Reiterating our commitment in the Trilateral Cooperation VISION 2020 to work towards further economic integration in the long-term, including the establishment of a common market in the region, we will make full use of the high complementarities and great potential of the three economies and bring to higher levels our cooperation in various economic and social fields.

8 We will further strengthen economic and trade relations and deepen the convergence of interests. We endorsed the achievements of the 10th Tripartite Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting held in Seoul in October 2015. We also welcomed the decision to start the joint project “Trilateral Cooperation for Improvement of Supply Chain Connectivity". We reiterated that we would enhance cooperation with a view to creating an attractive environment for trade and investment.

9 We appreciated that the Trilateral Investment Agreement, which came into effect in May 2014, has improved the investment environment and promoted investment in the region, and reaffirmed that we will make further efforts towards the acceleration of the trilateral FTA negotiations to realize a comprehensive, high-level and mutually beneficial FTA.

10 In light of the importance of e-commerce in the generation of new economic value, we shared the view that the creation of a region-wide digital single market can benefit all three countries. In this regard, we encouraged the three countries to explore possible ways of cooperation in e-commerce, such as information sharing, joint studies and training, and exchanges in the public and private sector.

11 Acknowledging the importance of developing innovative technologies for economic growth and strengthening industrial competitiveness among the three countries, we noted that new industries of high-added value such as bio and healthcare, e-commerce, software, and cultural content will advance the industrial structure of the three countries, and we will explore ways to further strengthen trilateral cooperation in the new industries.

12 To effectively respond to the serious challenges recently facing the global and regional economy and financial markets, promote economic growth and maintain financial stability in the region, we will bolster our cooperation through information-sharing and policy coordination among the financial authorities of the three countries. We welcomed the progress made in increasing the readiness and effectiveness of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM), transforming the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) into an international organization, and enhancing the Asian Bond Markets Initiative (ABMI). We particularly supported the three countries to further enhance AMRO’s capacity and the role in securing regional economic and financial stability. We appreciated the achievements of the 15th Trilateral Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting held in Lima in October 2015. The Republic of Korea explained its initiative to create Northeast Asia Development Bank (NEADB). Japan and China took note of this initiative.

13 We agreed to strengthen the cooperation on improvement of production capacity in the fourth-party-market. We shared the views that the cooperation among the private companies of the three countries in the fourth country market is increasing in the various sectors of manufacturing and service industries. We would hope to promote the business efforts to enhance cooperation in this regard.

14 Recognizing that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in the sustainable development and growth of the economy, we will strengthen cooperation among the SMEs of the three countries, including the exchange of information and human resources.

15 To enhance cooperation in science and innovation and address common regional and global issues, we will strengthen the research capacity of the three countries. For this purpose, we will continue the Joint Research Collaboration Program (JRCP) and the A3 Foresight Program, and will explore the possibility of expanding support for research on fields of common interest and expanding researcher exchanges. In addition, we will hold the Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation at a convenient time, and explore the possibility of launching the “Trilateral Young Scientists Exchange Program.”

16 Affirming the importance of creative economy, innovation economy and economic reform in promoting prosperity and advancement of the three countries, we will strive to combine the Republic of Korea’s creative economy policy, China’s mass entrepreneurship and innovation policy, and relevant polices of Japan, and create a consultative body to explore cooperative measures and establish partnership among the three countries.

17 We will hold the Trilateral ICT Ministers’ Meeting on a regular basis to facilitate joint research, technology cooperation, information sharing and human resources exchange.

18 Referring to the Joint Statement on Standards Cooperation adopted at the Third Trilateral Summit in 2010, we will enhance cooperation on standards, including the research of the harmonization of standards and the proposal of harmonized international standards, through the Standing Committee and the Northeast Asia Standards Cooperation Forum.

19 We reaffirmed the necessity of trilateral energy cooperation in achieving sustainable growth and co-prosperity of Northeast Asia. In this regard, we will strengthen our cooperation on LNG to enhance the liquidity and efficiency of the LNG market in Northeast Asia.

20 Through the Trilateral Ministerial Conference on Transport and Logistics, we will create a seamless logistics system within the Northeast Asian region, establish environmentally-friendly logistics systems, and continue working towards balance between security and efficiency in logistics. Accordingly, we will share information through the Northeast Asia Logistics Information Service Network (NEAL-Net), and make efforts to increase the number of ports subject to the NEAL-Net, and to expand the service area to include ASEAN and the EU.

21 In light of the potential for development of the aviation market in the region, we will continue bilateral or consider trilateral discussions among the three countries to explore the possibility of creating a more liberal and beneficial environment at the regional level.

22 We expressed continued support for the active implementation of the Action Plan of the Tripartite Customs Cooperation, in order to strengthen cooperation in the field of customs, including trade facilitation and security, through the framework of the Tripartite Customs Heads’ Meeting.

23 We welcomed the Second Trilateral Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting held in September 2015 for sustainable agricultural growth and the stable supply of food, and appreciated the adoption of the Joint Communiqué on agricultural cooperation and the Memorandum of Cooperation on Response against Transboundary Animal Diseases.

24 We will continue to bolster trilateral cooperation in the fields of employment and labor, food safety, and intellectual property rights.

PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

25 We affirmed the importance of sustainable development in building a future of peace and prosperity where people live in harmony with the planet. In this regard, we will make concerted efforts to realize sustainable development in pursuit of transforming our world by balancing economic development, social integration and environmental protection, based on global solidarity and shared responsibility.

26 We welcomed the official adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the UN Sustainable Development Summit held in September 2015, and recognized the importance of faithfully implementing the agenda for the sustainable future of mankind and the planet.

27 We reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in environmental protection. In this regard, we welcomed the adoption of the Tripartite Joint Action Plan on Environmental Cooperation (2015-2019) of nine priority areas at the 17th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting (TEMM) in April 2015. Recognizing the importance of tackling air pollution in the region, we encouraged the three countries to share good practices and efforts on improving air quality through the Tripartite Policy Dialogue on Air Pollution (TPDAP). We also recognized the significance of the Dust and Sandstorms (DSS) issue as a major environmental challenge in the region and urged strengthening collaboration in the field of DSS. In addition, we valued dialogue and cooperation on an Information Exchange on Tripartite Pollution Prevention and Control Technology project among the three countries. This project intends to enable environmental corporations to share information on technologies for pollution prevention and control and to promote trading of environmental technologies through relevant TEMM mechanisms.

28 Promoting sustainable development, we recognized the significance of the Sound Material Cycle Society/Circular Economy/3R, and expected cooperation in this field. In addition, we appreciate China’s efforts in the development of the CJK circular economy model bases in China, and we expected that the model bases could play a demonstration role at an early date. We should strengthen communication and coordination to this end.

29 We will cooperate for the adoption of a legally binding and ambitious agreement that follows the principles and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change applicable to all parties at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP21) to be held in Paris later this year. In addition, we recalled the commitment undertaken by developed countries to a goal of mobilizing jointly USD 100 billion annually by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation, and recognized that the Green Climate Fund (GCF) should play a key role in the financial mechanism under the Convention in the Post-2020 period.

30 We expressed support for the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Targets as well as the Pyeongchang Roadmap, and will continue the Tripartite Policy Dialogue on Biodiversity to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

31 Under the framework of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) and TEMM, we will make joint efforts for raising public awareness on the necessity to reduce marine litter and conducting joint monitoring of marine litter. Furthermore, we will cooperate in regulating the transboundary movement of electric and electronic waste and jointly respond to the request of the international community in accordance with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

32 Reaffirming the importance of transition to a green economy for sustainable development and poverty eradication, underlined at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in 2012, we emphasized the importance of contributing to sustainable development by providing support for the developing countries on their green growth strategies.

33 Fully recognizing the importance of trilateral cooperation in the area of health, including in response to emerging infectious diseases, such as MERS and Ebola, we will enhance information-sharing and technological cooperation among the three countries to strengthen cooperation. As part of such efforts, we will improve information-sharing on manufacturing technology and supply of source plasma and plasma derivatives for the safe supply of plasma derivatives in emergencies, including the outbreak of infectious diseases or natural disasters. We welcomed the Global Health Security Agenda High-Level Meeting successfully held in Seoul in September 2015, and shared the view that the Seoul Declaration adopted at the meeting will substantially contribute to the capacity-building of the developing countries in tackling infectious diseases. We look forward to the 8th Tripartite Health Ministers Meeting to be successfully held in Kyoto, Japan in November 2015.

34 Acknowledging the global importance of Arctic issues, we will launch a trilateral high-level dialogue on the Arctic to share Arctic policies, explore cooperative projects and seek ways to deepen cooperation over the Arctic.

ENHANCING TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE PEOPLES
35 We expressed the common recognition that exchanges and cooperation among the peoples of the three countries lay an important foundation for increasing understanding among the three countries, and will expand and develop various people-to-people and cultural exchanges with the aim of strengthening understanding and trust.

36 We will continue to hold youth exchange programs such as the Trilateral Youth Friendship Meeting, the Future Forum, and the Trilateral Youth Summit to promote exchanges and amity among the future leaders of the three countries.

37 Recognizing the important role of education for increasing understanding and common development among the three countries, we will establish the Trilateral Education Ministers’ Meeting with the aim to expand trilateral cooperation in the field of education. In this regard, we will promote student exchanges in stages in accordance with the principles of openness, flexibility, diversification, and standardization, recognizing CAMPUS Asia Project’s exemplary role in educational cooperation among the three countries.

38 As PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be consecutively hosted in the three countries, we will promote trilateral exchanges to enhance sports cooperation and share experience.

39 We recognized that the three countries share rich cultural assets and have great potential for cooperation in the content industry. In this regard, we will resume the Trilateral Cultural Industry Forum at an early date to explore cooperative measures, such as co-production and copyright protection.

40 Recognizing the importance and value of cultural and arts education in enhancing the quality of cultural life, we will strengthen mutual exchanges and cooperation in trilateral cultural and arts education, and continue to hold the Trilateral Culture and Arts Education Forum.

41 We will conduct consultations on holding the Trilateral Art Festival outside the three countries, promote exchanges and mutual learning in the fields of culture, strengthen cooperation in the protection of intangible cultural heritage, encourage and support youth cultural exchanges, and enhance the role of culture in coping with social issues.

42 Affirming the importance of expanding tourism exchanges among the three countries, we will strive to increase the number of people-to-people exchanges among us to 30 million until 2020 by promoting tourism exchanges, improving travellers’ convenience and developing joint promotions, such as the “Visit East Asia Campaign”.

43 Considering the importance of exchanges and cooperation among the local governments of the three countries in promoting understanding and trust among the peoples, we will encourage sister/friendship city exchanges, as well as other various forms of cooperation at the local government level.

44 We appreciated that the “East Asian Cultural Cities” has become a platform of cultural exchange and cooperation, by deepening mutual understanding and sharing cultural affection and happiness among the three countries. We congratulate that Jeju Special Self-Governing Province of the Republic of Korea, Nara of Japan, and Ningbo of China will be East Asian Cultural Cities in the year 2016, and supported the establishment of a network of East Asian Cultural Cities to facilitate greater international exchanges among the cities.

45 Considering the importance of public diplomacy in cultural and people-to-people exchanges, we encouraged and supported the foreign ministries of the three countries to continue consultations on a trilateral forum on public diplomacy to enhance understanding and friendship among the peoples of the three countries.

46 Underlining the importance of cooperation among the three countries in the field of consular affairs for more effective protection of nationals overseas, we will work closely to explore the possibility of establishing and holding meetings of a Trilateral Consular Consultation to share best practices and explore further cooperation.

47 Bearing in mind the geographical proximity and the volume of people-to-people exchanges and trade among the three countries, we will explore the possibility of establishing a trilateral consultation among the police authorities to jointly respond to transnational crimes and enhance social stability.

48 We will continue exchange programs for government officials and journalists, the “Young Ambassador’s Program,” the “Network of Trilateral Cooperation Think-tanks,” and the trilateral cooperation among the diplomatic training institutions to enhance understanding and trust with regard to trilateral cooperation.

CONTRIBUTING TO REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND PROSPERITY
49 We reaffirmed that maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula as well as in Northeast Asia is in our common interest. In this regard, we welcome that tensions in August on the Korean Peninsula were resolved by the agreement between the Republic of Korea and the DPRK. We hope that the agreement will lead to meaningful progress in inter-Korean relations. We reaffirmed our firm opposition to the development of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula, and shared the view that international obligations and commitments under all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the 19 September 2005 Joint Statement must be faithfully implemented. We oppose any action that may cause tension on the Korean Peninsula or violate relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We decided to continue our joint efforts to resume meaningful Six Party Talks at an early date to make substantial progress in denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner.

50 China and Japan expressed support for the efforts towards overcoming national division on the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner, and in this regard, highly appreciated the relevant initiatives aimed at promoting trust-building and enhancing exchanges and cooperation between the two sides of the Korean Peninsula.

51 We shared the view that strengthening trilateral cooperation on non-proliferation is necessary for regional and international peace and security. To this end, we will establish a Trilateral Consultation on Non-proliferation. We will continue to work together to improve nuclear security, including the cooperation between our Centers of Excellence on nuclear security.

52 Recognizing that malicious cyber activities, terrorism, and violent extremism pose grave threats to international security, we will closely cooperate in formulating a joint response. In this vein, we welcomed the Third Trilateral Consultation on Counterterrorism held in May 2015, and the Second Trilateral Cyber Policy Consultation held in October 2015.

53 We will closely work together for the success of the G20 Summit, APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the ASEAN+3 Summit, the East Asia Summit to be held within this year.

54 Recognizing the importance of the trilateral cooperation for regional cooperation, we will work together to advance East Asian regional cooperation with the trilateral cooperation serving as an engine. We will support the implementation of the East Asia Vision Group II (EAVG II) Final Report to be reported at the ASEAN+3 Summit in November, 2015. Reaffirming our support for ASEAN Centrality in the process of East Asian regional cooperation, we will make joint efforts towards the economic integration of East Asia, such as the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015, the establishment of the East Asian Economic Community by 2020 and the conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations that will realize a comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial agreement. We look forward to the leaders adopting a declaration celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the East Asia Summit and outlining the way forward.

55 We exchanged views on current trends in the international economy, including uncertainty and potential risk factors. In this vein, we will make concerted efforts to resolve challenges facing the global economy to accelerate global economic recovery, enhance potential growth and promote sustainable development. In addition, we looked forward to meaningful progress at the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC10) in Nairobi, the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the ASEAN+3 Summit and the G20 Summit to be held in 2015, including discussions on the advancement of regional economic integration and strong, sustainable, and balanced growth. We will closely work together for the success of the G20 Summit in 2016.

56 We appreciated that the Trilateral Meeting of Directors-General for Latin America and Caribbean Affairs has been held continuously on a regular basis; welcomed the Fifth Trilateral Policy Dialogue on African Affairs held in September 2015; and will hold a trilateral policy consultation meeting on Middle Eastern and North African affairs. We encouraged the regular holding of such regional policy consultations.

We look forward to Japan taking chairmanship in the year 2016.


Joint Declaration for Peace and Cooperation in Northeast Asia ｜ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

 

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Japan-China Summit Meeting and Foreign Ministers Meeting

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  Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
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  Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
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Confirmation of the political will on both sides to further improve the Japan-China relationship and of the direction of the improvement
At the meeting, the two leaders shared the view that Japan and China had a major responsibility for the peace and prosperity of the region and the international community, and that it was needed to add momentum to the current trend of the improvement of the Japan-China relationship. The two leaders identified the following points as the basic direction of further improvement based on the ''Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests.'' (Note: The wording of the following points is not negotiated between Japan and China. They are the points of convergence about the general direction the two countries would take.)

(i) Adopt positive policies reciprocally, and jointly promote the improvement of the relationship.
(ii) Address issues of concern based on past agreements between Japan and China.
(iii) In particular, translate a commitment in the 2008 Joint Statement to be ''partners who cooperate together and are not threats to each other'' into concrete policies.
(iv) Further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the economic fields and other areas.
(2) Specific outcomes
The two leaders also concurred on the following points as specific outcomes of this meeting.

• Resume the mutual visit of the Foreign Ministers, confirming the importance of the mutual visit and other high-level exchanges.
• Hold the Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue early next year.
• Reinforce mutual efforts to achieve the early commencement of the implementation of the '''Maritime and Aerial Communication Mechanism between the Japan-China defense authorities.''
• Aim to resume talks based on the ''2008 agreement'' on the issue of resources development in the East China Sea.
• Deepen economic and financial cooperation.

(3) Other issues
In addition, the two leaders expressed their views on various issues and problems between the two countries and carried out a frank exchange of views.



Japan-China Summit Meeting and Foreign Ministers Meeting ｜ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan





Joint Declaration for Peace and Cooperation in Northeast Asia



We, the Leaders of the Republic of Korea, Japan and the People’s Republic of China, convened in Seoul, Korea on November 1, 2015, on the occasion of the Sixth Trilateral Summit.

We appreciated that trilateral cooperation, since its inception in 1999, has developed through the regular holding of the Trilateral Summits in the three countries since 2008, independently from the ASEAN+3 Summit; that such cooperation has been further institutionalized through the establishment of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) in 2011; and that there has been progress towards the realization of the visions set forth in the Joint Declarations/Statements of the Leaders of the three countries, including Trilateral Cooperation VISION 2020.

Acknowledging that steady progress has been made in trilateral cooperation in various areas despite fluid situations in the Northeast Asian region in recent years, we shared the view that trilateral cooperation has been completely restored on the occasion of this Summit, held almost three and a half years after the Fifth Trilateral Summit held in May 2012. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, and Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, expressed appreciation for the efforts made by Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea, the chair country, to restore trilateral cooperation during the past years.

We reached the common recognition that the situation in which economic interdependence and political/security tensions coexist must be overcome in order to build permanent peace, stability and co-prosperity in the region, and to continue to develop trilateral cooperation unwaveringly.

To this end, we came to the recognition that respective bilateral ties among the three countries constitute an important foundation for trilateral cooperation, and that the deepening of trilateral cooperation, in turn, contributes to each bilateral relations and to the peace, stability, and prosperity of the Northeast Asian region. In the spirit of facing history squarely and advancing towards the future, we agreed that the three countries should address related issues properly and to work together to improve bilateral relations and to strengthen trilateral cooperation.

With this in mind, we have decided as follows:

REALIZING PEACE AND COOPERATION IN NORTHEAST ASIA
1 Affirming that the deepening of trilateral cooperation will contribute to the stable development of respective bilateral ties among the three countries and to the realization of peace, stability and prosperity in Northeast Asia, we will further institutionalize trilateral cooperation and develop the process of dialogue and cooperation.

2 We reaffirmed that the Trilateral Summit is to be held on a regular basis in the three countries, as specified in the 2008 Joint Statement for Tripartite Partnership. To broaden the scope of trilateral cooperation, we decided to encourage a more active promotion of over 50 intergovernmental consultative mechanisms, including about 20 ministerial-level mechanisms, as well as numerous cooperative projects, and to promote the creation of new intergovernmental consultative mechanisms, including ministerial-level mechanisms.

3 Speaking highly of the efforts made by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) in advancing trilateral cooperation, we expressed support for the capacity-building of the TCS by its participation in all ministerial-level consultative mechanisms within the framework of trilateral cooperation. Accordingly, we shared the view that the creation of a Trilateral Cooperation Fund (TCF) will be instrumental for the development of trilateral cooperation projects.

4 We appreciated the various endeavors made so far to promote regional cooperation, and decided to make joint efforts to achieve the common goal of building regional trust and cooperation. In this regard, the Leaders of Japan and the People’s Republic of China highly appreciated and welcomed, and agreed to further develop the Republic of Korea’s “Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative” (NAPCI) aimed to build trust in the region through dialogue and cooperation. We appreciated that the various cooperation projects discussed at the Second High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on NAPCI held in October, 2015 will contribute to expanding trilateral cooperation by strengthening trust in the region, and we will continue to pursue high-level meetings relevant to NAPCI.

5 Referring to the Cooperation on Nuclear Safety adopted at the Fourth Trilateral Summit in 2011, we reached the common recognition that we will continue trilateral consultations on nuclear safety. In this regard, we appreciated the discussions at the 8th Top Regulators’ Meeting and the 3rd TRM+ Meeting (International Forum on Northeast Asia Nuclear Safety Cooperation) held in October 2015, and we will, building on progress thus made, continue to strengthen our cooperation through enhanced regional cooperation process in the field of civil nuclear safety.

6 Referring to the Cooperation on Disaster Management adopted at the Fourth Trilateral Summit in 2011, we will strengthen cooperation among the three countries to enhance disaster prevention and disaster relief capabilities. We appreciated the success of the Trilateral Table-Top Exercise on Disaster Management (TTX) hosted by the TCS, and welcomed the participation of interested countries such as the United States, Russia and Mongolia in April 2015. We welcomed the outcomes of the Trilateral Joint Statement on Disaster Management Cooperation in October 2015. Acknowledging that Japan submitted a proposal of the resolution to establish the World Tsunami Day to the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly, we raise awareness of threats and measures against tsunamis through the collaboration among the three countries, in order to mitigate damage caused by tsunamis in the international community.

EXPANDING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COOPERATION FOR CO-PROSPERITY
7 Reiterating our commitment in the Trilateral Cooperation VISION 2020 to work towards further economic integration in the long-term, including the establishment of a common market in the region, we will make full use of the high complementarities and great potential of the three economies and bring to higher levels our cooperation in various economic and social fields.

8 We will further strengthen economic and trade relations and deepen the convergence of interests. We endorsed the achievements of the 10th Tripartite Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting held in Seoul in October 2015. We also welcomed the decision to start the joint project “Trilateral Cooperation for Improvement of Supply Chain Connectivity". We reiterated that we would enhance cooperation with a view to creating an attractive environment for trade and investment.

9 We appreciated that the Trilateral Investment Agreement, which came into effect in May 2014, has improved the investment environment and promoted investment in the region, and reaffirmed that we will make further efforts towards the acceleration of the trilateral FTA negotiations to realize a comprehensive, high-level and mutually beneficial FTA.

10 In light of the importance of e-commerce in the generation of new economic value, we shared the view that the creation of a region-wide digital single market can benefit all three countries. In this regard, we encouraged the three countries to explore possible ways of cooperation in e-commerce, such as information sharing, joint studies and training, and exchanges in the public and private sector.

11 Acknowledging the importance of developing innovative technologies for economic growth and strengthening industrial competitiveness among the three countries, we noted that new industries of high-added value such as bio and healthcare, e-commerce, software, and cultural content will advance the industrial structure of the three countries, and we will explore ways to further strengthen trilateral cooperation in the new industries.

12 To effectively respond to the serious challenges recently facing the global and regional economy and financial markets, promote economic growth and maintain financial stability in the region, we will bolster our cooperation through information-sharing and policy coordination among the financial authorities of the three countries. We welcomed the progress made in increasing the readiness and effectiveness of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM), transforming the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) into an international organization, and enhancing the Asian Bond Markets Initiative (ABMI). We particularly supported the three countries to further enhance AMRO’s capacity and the role in securing regional economic and financial stability. We appreciated the achievements of the 15th Trilateral Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting held in Lima in October 2015. The Republic of Korea explained its initiative to create Northeast Asia Development Bank (NEADB). Japan and China took note of this initiative.

13 We agreed to strengthen the cooperation on improvement of production capacity in the fourth-party-market. We shared the views that the cooperation among the private companies of the three countries in the fourth country market is increasing in the various sectors of manufacturing and service industries. We would hope to promote the business efforts to enhance cooperation in this regard.

14 Recognizing that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in the sustainable development and growth of the economy, we will strengthen cooperation among the SMEs of the three countries, including the exchange of information and human resources.

15 To enhance cooperation in science and innovation and address common regional and global issues, we will strengthen the research capacity of the three countries. For this purpose, we will continue the Joint Research Collaboration Program (JRCP) and the A3 Foresight Program, and will explore the possibility of expanding support for research on fields of common interest and expanding researcher exchanges. In addition, we will hold the Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation at a convenient time, and explore the possibility of launching the “Trilateral Young Scientists Exchange Program.”

16 Affirming the importance of creative economy, innovation economy and economic reform in promoting prosperity and advancement of the three countries, we will strive to combine the Republic of Korea’s creative economy policy, China’s mass entrepreneurship and innovation policy, and relevant polices of Japan, and create a consultative body to explore cooperative measures and establish partnership among the three countries.

17 We will hold the Trilateral ICT Ministers’ Meeting on a regular basis to facilitate joint research, technology cooperation, information sharing and human resources exchange.

18 Referring to the Joint Statement on Standards Cooperation adopted at the Third Trilateral Summit in 2010, we will enhance cooperation on standards, including the research of the harmonization of standards and the proposal of harmonized international standards, through the Standing Committee and the Northeast Asia Standards Cooperation Forum.

19 We reaffirmed the necessity of trilateral energy cooperation in achieving sustainable growth and co-prosperity of Northeast Asia. In this regard, we will strengthen our cooperation on LNG to enhance the liquidity and efficiency of the LNG market in Northeast Asia.

20 Through the Trilateral Ministerial Conference on Transport and Logistics, we will create a seamless logistics system within the Northeast Asian region, establish environmentally-friendly logistics systems, and continue working towards balance between security and efficiency in logistics. Accordingly, we will share information through the Northeast Asia Logistics Information Service Network (NEAL-Net), and make efforts to increase the number of ports subject to the NEAL-Net, and to expand the service area to include ASEAN and the EU.

21 In light of the potential for development of the aviation market in the region, we will continue bilateral or consider trilateral discussions among the three countries to explore the possibility of creating a more liberal and beneficial environment at the regional level.

22 We expressed continued support for the active implementation of the Action Plan of the Tripartite Customs Cooperation, in order to strengthen cooperation in the field of customs, including trade facilitation and security, through the framework of the Tripartite Customs Heads’ Meeting.

23 We welcomed the Second Trilateral Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting held in September 2015 for sustainable agricultural growth and the stable supply of food, and appreciated the adoption of the Joint Communiqué on agricultural cooperation and the Memorandum of Cooperation on Response against Transboundary Animal Diseases.

24 We will continue to bolster trilateral cooperation in the fields of employment and labor, food safety, and intellectual property rights.

PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

25 We affirmed the importance of sustainable development in building a future of peace and prosperity where people live in harmony with the planet. In this regard, we will make concerted efforts to realize sustainable development in pursuit of transforming our world by balancing economic development, social integration and environmental protection, based on global solidarity and shared responsibility.

26 We welcomed the official adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the UN Sustainable Development Summit held in September 2015, and recognized the importance of faithfully implementing the agenda for the sustainable future of mankind and the planet.

27 We reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in environmental protection. In this regard, we welcomed the adoption of the Tripartite Joint Action Plan on Environmental Cooperation (2015-2019) of nine priority areas at the 17th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting (TEMM) in April 2015. Recognizing the importance of tackling air pollution in the region, we encouraged the three countries to share good practices and efforts on improving air quality through the Tripartite Policy Dialogue on Air Pollution (TPDAP). We also recognized the significance of the Dust and Sandstorms (DSS) issue as a major environmental challenge in the region and urged strengthening collaboration in the field of DSS. In addition, we valued dialogue and cooperation on an Information Exchange on Tripartite Pollution Prevention and Control Technology project among the three countries. This project intends to enable environmental corporations to share information on technologies for pollution prevention and control and to promote trading of environmental technologies through relevant TEMM mechanisms.

28 Promoting sustainable development, we recognized the significance of the Sound Material Cycle Society/Circular Economy/3R, and expected cooperation in this field. In addition, we appreciate China’s efforts in the development of the CJK circular economy model bases in China, and we expected that the model bases could play a demonstration role at an early date. We should strengthen communication and coordination to this end.

29 We will cooperate for the adoption of a legally binding and ambitious agreement that follows the principles and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change applicable to all parties at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP21) to be held in Paris later this year. In addition, we recalled the commitment undertaken by developed countries to a goal of mobilizing jointly USD 100 billion annually by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation, and recognized that the Green Climate Fund (GCF) should play a key role in the financial mechanism under the Convention in the Post-2020 period.

30 We expressed support for the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Targets as well as the Pyeongchang Roadmap, and will continue the Tripartite Policy Dialogue on Biodiversity to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

31 Under the framework of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) and TEMM, we will make joint efforts for raising public awareness on the necessity to reduce marine litter and conducting joint monitoring of marine litter. Furthermore, we will cooperate in regulating the transboundary movement of electric and electronic waste and jointly respond to the request of the international community in accordance with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

32 Reaffirming the importance of transition to a green economy for sustainable development and poverty eradication, underlined at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in 2012, we emphasized the importance of contributing to sustainable development by providing support for the developing countries on their green growth strategies.

33 Fully recognizing the importance of trilateral cooperation in the area of health, including in response to emerging infectious diseases, such as MERS and Ebola, we will enhance information-sharing and technological cooperation among the three countries to strengthen cooperation. As part of such efforts, we will improve information-sharing on manufacturing technology and supply of source plasma and plasma derivatives for the safe supply of plasma derivatives in emergencies, including the outbreak of infectious diseases or natural disasters. We welcomed the Global Health Security Agenda High-Level Meeting successfully held in Seoul in September 2015, and shared the view that the Seoul Declaration adopted at the meeting will substantially contribute to the capacity-building of the developing countries in tackling infectious diseases. We look forward to the 8th Tripartite Health Ministers Meeting to be successfully held in Kyoto, Japan in November 2015.

34 Acknowledging the global importance of Arctic issues, we will launch a trilateral high-level dialogue on the Arctic to share Arctic policies, explore cooperative projects and seek ways to deepen cooperation over the Arctic.

ENHANCING TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE PEOPLES
35 We expressed the common recognition that exchanges and cooperation among the peoples of the three countries lay an important foundation for increasing understanding among the three countries, and will expand and develop various people-to-people and cultural exchanges with the aim of strengthening understanding and trust.

36 We will continue to hold youth exchange programs such as the Trilateral Youth Friendship Meeting, the Future Forum, and the Trilateral Youth Summit to promote exchanges and amity among the future leaders of the three countries.

37 Recognizing the important role of education for increasing understanding and common development among the three countries, we will establish the Trilateral Education Ministers’ Meeting with the aim to expand trilateral cooperation in the field of education. In this regard, we will promote student exchanges in stages in accordance with the principles of openness, flexibility, diversification, and standardization, recognizing CAMPUS Asia Project’s exemplary role in educational cooperation among the three countries.

38 As PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be consecutively hosted in the three countries, we will promote trilateral exchanges to enhance sports cooperation and share experience.

39 We recognized that the three countries share rich cultural assets and have great potential for cooperation in the content industry. In this regard, we will resume the Trilateral Cultural Industry Forum at an early date to explore cooperative measures, such as co-production and copyright protection.

40 Recognizing the importance and value of cultural and arts education in enhancing the quality of cultural life, we will strengthen mutual exchanges and cooperation in trilateral cultural and arts education, and continue to hold the Trilateral Culture and Arts Education Forum.

41 We will conduct consultations on holding the Trilateral Art Festival outside the three countries, promote exchanges and mutual learning in the fields of culture, strengthen cooperation in the protection of intangible cultural heritage, encourage and support youth cultural exchanges, and enhance the role of culture in coping with social issues.

42 Affirming the importance of expanding tourism exchanges among the three countries, we will strive to increase the number of people-to-people exchanges among us to 30 million until 2020 by promoting tourism exchanges, improving travellers’ convenience and developing joint promotions, such as the “Visit East Asia Campaign”.

43 Considering the importance of exchanges and cooperation among the local governments of the three countries in promoting understanding and trust among the peoples, we will encourage sister/friendship city exchanges, as well as other various forms of cooperation at the local government level.

44 We appreciated that the “East Asian Cultural Cities” has become a platform of cultural exchange and cooperation, by deepening mutual understanding and sharing cultural affection and happiness among the three countries. We congratulate that Jeju Special Self-Governing Province of the Republic of Korea, Nara of Japan, and Ningbo of China will be East Asian Cultural Cities in the year 2016, and supported the establishment of a network of East Asian Cultural Cities to facilitate greater international exchanges among the cities.

45 Considering the importance of public diplomacy in cultural and people-to-people exchanges, we encouraged and supported the foreign ministries of the three countries to continue consultations on a trilateral forum on public diplomacy to enhance understanding and friendship among the peoples of the three countries.

46 Underlining the importance of cooperation among the three countries in the field of consular affairs for more effective protection of nationals overseas, we will work closely to explore the possibility of establishing and holding meetings of a Trilateral Consular Consultation to share best practices and explore further cooperation.

47 Bearing in mind the geographical proximity and the volume of people-to-people exchanges and trade among the three countries, we will explore the possibility of establishing a trilateral consultation among the police authorities to jointly respond to transnational crimes and enhance social stability.

48 We will continue exchange programs for government officials and journalists, the “Young Ambassador’s Program,” the “Network of Trilateral Cooperation Think-tanks,” and the trilateral cooperation among the diplomatic training institutions to enhance understanding and trust with regard to trilateral cooperation.

CONTRIBUTING TO REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND PROSPERITY
49 We reaffirmed that maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula as well as in Northeast Asia is in our common interest. In this regard, we welcome that tensions in August on the Korean Peninsula were resolved by the agreement between the Republic of Korea and the DPRK. We hope that the agreement will lead to meaningful progress in inter-Korean relations. We reaffirmed our firm opposition to the development of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula, and shared the view that international obligations and commitments under all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the 19 September 2005 Joint Statement must be faithfully implemented. We oppose any action that may cause tension on the Korean Peninsula or violate relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We decided to continue our joint efforts to resume meaningful Six Party Talks at an early date to make substantial progress in denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner.

50 China and Japan expressed support for the efforts towards overcoming national division on the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner, and in this regard, highly appreciated the relevant initiatives aimed at promoting trust-building and enhancing exchanges and cooperation between the two sides of the Korean Peninsula.

51 We shared the view that strengthening trilateral cooperation on non-proliferation is necessary for regional and international peace and security. To this end, we will establish a Trilateral Consultation on Non-proliferation. We will continue to work together to improve nuclear security, including the cooperation between our Centers of Excellence on nuclear security.

52 Recognizing that malicious cyber activities, terrorism, and violent extremism pose grave threats to international security, we will closely cooperate in formulating a joint response. In this vein, we welcomed the Third Trilateral Consultation on Counterterrorism held in May 2015, and the Second Trilateral Cyber Policy Consultation held in October 2015.

53 We will closely work together for the success of the G20 Summit, APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the ASEAN+3 Summit, the East Asia Summit to be held within this year.

54 Recognizing the importance of the trilateral cooperation for regional cooperation, we will work together to advance East Asian regional cooperation with the trilateral cooperation serving as an engine. We will support the implementation of the East Asia Vision Group II (EAVG II) Final Report to be reported at the ASEAN+3 Summit in November, 2015. Reaffirming our support for ASEAN Centrality in the process of East Asian regional cooperation, we will make joint efforts towards the economic integration of East Asia, such as the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015, the establishment of the East Asian Economic Community by 2020 and the conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations that will realize a comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial agreement. We look forward to the leaders adopting a declaration celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the East Asia Summit and outlining the way forward.

55 We exchanged views on current trends in the international economy, including uncertainty and potential risk factors. In this vein, we will make concerted efforts to resolve challenges facing the global economy to accelerate global economic recovery, enhance potential growth and promote sustainable development. In addition, we looked forward to meaningful progress at the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC10) in Nairobi, the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the ASEAN+3 Summit and the G20 Summit to be held in 2015, including discussions on the advancement of regional economic integration and strong, sustainable, and balanced growth. We will closely work together for the success of the G20 Summit in 2016.

56 We appreciated that the Trilateral Meeting of Directors-General for Latin America and Caribbean Affairs has been held continuously on a regular basis; welcomed the Fifth Trilateral Policy Dialogue on African Affairs held in September 2015; and will hold a trilateral policy consultation meeting on Middle Eastern and North African affairs. We encouraged the regular holding of such regional policy consultations.

We look forward to Japan taking chairmanship in the year 2016.


Joint Declaration for Peace and Cooperation in Northeast Asia ｜ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

2015 U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue

The United States and China commended the outcomes of the visit to the United States by General Xu Caihou, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission, in October this year, and stated that they will take concrete steps to advance sustained and reliable military-to-military relations in the future. The two sides will prepare for the visit to the United States by General Chen Bingde, Chief of the General Staff of China’s People’s Liberation Army, and the visits to China by Robert Gates, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, and Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. The two sides will actively implement various exchange and cooperation programs agreed between the two militaries, including by increasing the level and frequency of exchanges. The goal of these efforts is to improve their capabilities for practical cooperation and foster greater understanding of each other’s intentions and of the international security environment.

The United States and China agreed to deepen counter-terrorism consultation and cooperation on an equal and mutually beneficial basis and to strengthen law-enforcement cooperation. They agreed to exchange evidence and intelligence on law enforcement issues in a timely and reciprocal manner.

The United States and China are of the view that in the 21st century, global challenges are growing, countries are more interdependent, and the need for peace, development, and cooperation is increasing. The United States and China have an increasingly broad base of cooperation and share increasingly important common responsibilities on many major issues concerning global stability and prosperity. The two countries should further strengthen coordination and cooperation, work together to tackle challenges, and promote world peace, security and prosperity.

The two countries believe that to nurture and deepen bilateral strategic trust is essential to U.S.-China relations in the new era. During their discussions, the Chinese side said that it resolutely follows the path of peaceful development and a win-win strategy of opening-up, and is committed to promoting the building of a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity. The United States reiterated that it welcomes a strong, prosperous and successful China that plays a greater role in world affairs. The United States stated that it is committed to working with other countries in addressing the most difficult international problems they face. China welcomes the United States as an Asia-Pacific nation that contributes to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. The two sides reiterated that they are committed to building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive U.S.-China relationship for the 21st century, and will take concrete actions to steadily build a partnership to address common challenges.


Remarks With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Ben Franklin Room
Washington, DC
February 23, 2016


SECRETARY KERRY: As I have said many times, the United States and China share one of the most consequential relationships in the world. In recent months and years, our nations have worked together to bring about important progress on a range of global issues, including a landmark agreement on climate change in Paris last year, which began with President Xi and – actually, it began before that with our conversations even a year earlier, but ultimately with President Xi and President Obama standing in Beijing and announcing jointly what our intended reductions would be, and that significantly impacted the decisions of other countries leading up to and into Paris.
We also worked very closely together on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear program. And China took a leading role with respect to the resolution of one of the very difficult issues, the Arak plutonium reactor, and we’re grateful for the cooperation and the partnership with China with respect to that particular solution to a complicated issue of nonproliferation.
And the reason that we’ve been able to cooperate in areas where our interests and our values are aligned, despite the fact that we have clear differences on some other issues, is that both the United States and China are deeply committed to an open and frank dialogue in which we both recognize our responsibilities to other countries all around the planet. We are two powerful nations, the two largest economies today, and we have an ability, therefore, to be able to make good things happen when we decide to. We’re aware of that, and that is the dialogue that we continued in our meeting here today.
First, we discussed North Korea’s increasingly provocative actions. The nuclear test that the DPRK conducted last month and its subsequent ballistic missile launches are provocative; they are threatening; they are a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions. And China and the United States agree completely that this – these actions merit an appropriate response through the United Nations Security Council, which was promised if they violated a resolution, and it was promised in the last resolution.
There now have been several flagrant violations of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, and those violations threaten not only the peninsula, but they also are a threat to international peace and security. We, therefore, need to respond accordingly. And we agreed today to continue our efforts to make certain that response is forthcoming rapidly.
Today, Foreign Minister Wang and I also discussed ways that we, along with our partners in the UN and the Six-Party Talks framework, can deepen our cooperation not only to respond to the actions that DPRK took but equally importantly because those reactions have a purpose and that purpose is to bring the DPRK back to the table for the purpose of the Six-Party Talks and particularly discussions about denuclearization.


Huh, nice pictures, nice words, so I guess by posting this all those posts about any conflict between China and the USA are just flat wrong, yes? I guess all this Asian arms race due to Chinese expansion, SCS conflict, on a dozen threads on PDF, in dozens of stories in the international media, etc., are nothing but a bunch of lies made up by people and reporters. Who knew?

See what I did here? Nice try, Nihonjin, but no cigar!