The 8th Session of China-Japan-ROK Economic and Trade Ministers' Conference was held in Tokyo on April 24. Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Banri Kaieda, ROK’s Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon attended the meeting.

Trade and economic ministers of the three countries exchanged views on the issues of common concern, such as jointly coping with the earthquake disaster in Japan, Government-Industry-Academia joint research on China-Japan-ROK FTA, China-Japan-ROK Investment Agreement, and enhancing cooperation of the three countries under the multilateral framework.

Minister Chen and Minister Kim Jong-hoon expressed their deep condolences to the quake victims and sincere regards to the Japanese people, and stated that China and ROK would continue offering necessary assistance to Japan for disaster relief and post-earthquake reconstruction. Japanese Minister Banri Kaieda expressed his appreciations to the two ministers. The three parties expressed concern to earthquake impacts on the global industrial supply chain, reiterated support to free trading system, opposition to protectionism, and reached consensus on further enhancing cooperation in relief efforts and post-disaster reconstruction.

Minister Chen stated that when facing with the challenges of serious natural disasters and the world economic recovery, it is more significant for the three countries to enhance the trade and economic cooperation. China would like to continue strengthening the exchanges and cooperation in trade and economy with Japan and ROK, and take joint efforts to overcome difficulties so as to improve the trade and economic cooperation of the three countries and advance it to a new stage of development.

After the meeting, the three ministers issued the Joint Statement of the 8th Session of China-Japan-ROK Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting, and met the press.

Minister Chen also exchanged views on China-Japan and China-ROK trade and economic relations with Japanese Minister and ROK’s Minister respectively.