S’Korea, China, Japan leaders hold rare summit

The leaders of South Korea, China and Japan held their first
summit in more than three years Sunday, setting aside
historical animosities and territorial disputes to focus on shared
security and trade concerns.
No substantive breakthroughs were expected, but the meeting in
Seoul was a symbolic statement of intent by Northeast Asia’s
three largest economies who all stand to reap significant
diplomatic and economic gains from closer cooperation.
The focus was very much on economic ties, with China
especially keen to boost trade links as it seeks to  inject some
fresh momentum i nto its slowing economy.  Also high on the agenda was North Korea whose nuclear
weapons ambitions pose a worry — and threat — to all three
countries, including China, which is the North’s main diplomatic
protector and economic benefactor.
The triumph of realpolitik will be capped Monday by a first ever
one-on-one summit between South Korean President Park
Geun-Hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after an
extended diplomatic freeze.