On January 12, 2007, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing chaired the fourth meeting of the Tripartite Committee of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in Cebu, Philippines and attended a working lunch of the Foreign Ministers of the EAS (East Asia Summit) member countries.

At the meeting of the Tripartite Committee, Li said that China, Japan and the ROK are countries with great influence in East Asia. Closer cooperation of mutual benefit between China, Japan and the ROK is good for the peoples of the three countries as well as regional peace, stability and development, said Li.  Currently the relations between the three countries have shown a new trend of development, Li said. "We should grasp this good opportunity to increase political trust of the three countries, upgrade economic and trade cooperation level and broaden the field of cooperation, in order to open new prospects of tripartite cooperation," he said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the ROK Song Min-soon said the three countries, which have their respective advantages in development, are highly complementary. He urged the three countries to increase mutual trust, strengthen cooperation and contribute to peace and prosperity in this region based on mutual respect. Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Katsuhito Asano said China, Japan and the ROK are highly interdependent and there is huge potential for their cooperation. He hoped the three countries will work together to promote tripartite cooperation.

Li also exchanged views with Song Min-soon and Katsuhito Asano on deepening tripartite cooperation as well as regional and international issues of common interest.

The meeting adopted the 2005-2006 report on the progress of cooperation between China, Japan and the ROK drafted by the Chinese side and decided to submit the report to the 7th meeting of the leaders of the three countries.

At the working lunch of the Foreign Ministers of the EAS (East Asia Summit) member countries, Li said China upholds the implementation the suggestions proposed by the leaders of these countries at the summit under the principles of addressing easier problems before moving on to thornier ones and gradual progress and supports top priority to be given to the five key areas including energy, finance, education, prevention of bird flu and disaster relief.  He said China supports ASEAN to play a leading role in East Asia summit meetings and also supports a positive role of East Asia summit in promoting East Asian regional cooperation. The EAS should maintain its openness and inclusiveness, he added.