From October 17 to 19, 2011, former State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan attended the Trilateral Academic Forum among China, Japan and South Korea with the theme of Toward a New Era of Peace and Common Prosperity in Northeast Asia in Seoul, South Korea and delivered a keynote speech titled Joining Hands to Build a Bright Future of Northeast Asia. During the stay, Tang also met with South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik, former Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo, former Grand National Party Chairperson Park Geun-hye and former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

In his keynote speech, Tang elaborated views on regional and international situation and China's policies on the issue of Korean Peninsula. He raised four proposals on further strengthening China-Japan-South Korea cooperation: first, step up high-level exchanges, increase strategic mutual trust and jointly promote regional cooperation; second, abandon the Cold War mentality, strengthen dialogue and consultation and jointly safeguard regional security and stability; third, enhance interconnectivity, deepen trade and economic cooperation and jointly boost regional development and prosperity; fourth, expand cultural and educational exchanges, enhance the friendship among the people and jointly consolidate the social foundation of good-neighborly friendship.

During the bilateral meetings, Tang pointed out that China is an important close neighbor of South Korea and Japan. China always regards and develops relations with South Korea and Japan from a strategic height and a long-term perspective. Next year will be the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and South Korea. The two sides should take that opportunity to deepen exchanges and cooperation and push forward the development of the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership. Next year will also witness the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between China and Japan. China is willing to work with Japan to promote the mutually beneficial cooperation, increase the friendship between the two peoples and deepen the bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

He said that the establishment of the China-Japan-South Korea cooperation secretariat marks a major progress of the trilateral cooperation. China is ready to make joint efforts with South Korea and Japan to improve the cooperation mechanism, enrich the trilateral cooperation contents and play a bigger role of deepening East Asia cooperation and maintaining regional peace and development.

The South Korean side noted that it attaches great importance to the relations with China. The 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties implies the adulthood of China-South Korea relations. South Korea expects to join hands with China to promote the development of the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership. The trilateral cooperation is gaining greater importance. South Korea is satisfied with the progress of such cooperation. It is willing to strengthen coordination and collaboration with China and Japan to further advance the cooperation.

The Japanese side expressed gratitude to China for its timely help after the massive earthquake in eastern Japan. It is willing to work closely with China to push for progress of the bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations, boost the development of East Asia regional cooperation and contribute to achieving the long-term objective of building East Asian Community.