Around 30 experts and scholars from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea gathered at the 8 th Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum in Hokkaido, Japan on July 8 to seek ways to strengthen trilateral cooperation in the new era.

The one-day forum, themed “Exploring cooperation under a new era”, also saw the attendance of former senior officials from the three countries.

Addressing the event, former Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan affirmed that reinforcing political trust and public opinion is one of the priorities of trilateral cooperation.

He said that the three countries should come to an agreement on properly and responsibly dealing with sensitive issues while keeping disputes under control and coordinating with countries in the world to figure out regional common interests.

They should work together to promote stable and constructive cooperation in coping with issues of common interest such aging population, environmental pollution and energy-related concerns, according to former Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda.

The annual forum has been alternately organised in the three Northeast Asian countries since 2006, with the aim to increase non-governmental exchanges among the neighbouring countries./.