In a display of regional solidarity, China, Japan, and South Korea have pledged to deepen their economic cooperation. At the 13th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting held last weekend in Seoul, the three nations outlined an agenda, encompassing trade agreements and supply chain stability.

Japan and China have taken steps towards resolving trade disputes and improving economic cooperation during the China-Japan High Level Dialogue held on Saturday, March 22, 2025.

Last week, China and Japan reached a deal to resolve their dispute over the discharge of Fukishima nuclear water, paving the road for China to eventually lift import bans on Japanese seafood.

A trilateral meeting among Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol led to an agreement to elevate negotiations on a trilateral free trade agreement, as well as some bilateral mechanisms to revive trade and investment.

As Japan is reportedly tightening its grip on exports of advanced materials and equipment, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) warned that Japan's actions could "seriously affect" normal bilateral trade.

Earlier this month, trade officials from China and Japan held their first export control dialogue after a communication mechanism was first created last fall. But a new proposal in Japan that is currently under consideration will test the functionality of the mechanism.

Today Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with a Japanese business delegation that visited Beijing, the first visit of this kind since 2019. In the backdrop, bilateral trade has chilled in recent years, but both governments have agreed to work together on a few issues that may help mitigate disagreements and