On 26 July 2021, the Center for International Strategic Studies of COSC held in Beijing the “China-Japan-Korea Free Trade Agreement Prospect Seminar” both online and offline. The event was moderated by Mr. Sun Weijia, Director-General of Department of the International Exchanges and Cooperation of the COSC. H.E. Cheng Yonghua, former Chinese Ambassador to Japan, delivered an opening speech and H.E. Qiu Guohong, former Chinese Ambassador to the ROK, made the closing remarks.

Twenty scholars from the three countries engaged in profound discussions on three topics: Geopolitical situation and challenges faced by China-Japan-Korea Free Trade Agreement negotiations, How to achieve a higher level of breakthrough in China-Japan-Korea negotiations based on RCEP, and How can China, Japan and South Korea strengthen the regional industrial chain and supply chain and jointly build a powerful engine for world economic growth. Insightful analyses were given for the opportunities, thorny issues, and prospects of the free trade agreement. Delegates were unanimous in their hope for early progress.

A generally held view at the seminar was that the ever-deepening cooperation between China, Japan and the ROK had become an important force for regional integration, growth, peace and stability. Despite some twists and turns in recent years in the three sets of bilateral relations, the three countries are inseparable on the industrial and supply chains. Together, they make up a competitive East Asia production network and a hot regional consumer market. It is imperative to enhance mutual trust and build synergy with their respective strengths to expedite negotiations for a more advanced format of regional economic integration. Regular exchange between the academic circles in the three countries is a good way to foster mutual understanding and consensus so as to promote progress in the negotiations.