China, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan discussed the establishment of a China-Japan-ROK Free Trade Area (FTA) in Qingdao on Aug 22, according to Chinanews.com.

Song Yaomin, deputy director-general of the department of Asian affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, said at the forum that the economies of the three countries totaled one-fifth of the world economy and 70 percent of Asia. The cooperation among the three would be effective and beneficial.

Mao Ning, deputy secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, said the three countries should make every effort to build the China-Japan-ROK FTA because it also promotes Asia-Pacific economic integration.

The China-Japan-ROK FTA Seminar invited experts from home and abroad to discuss building a free trade area. Over 100 guests from the Ministry of Commerce, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat and China Association of International Trade attended the forum.

Qingdao, as an international port city, has close economic ties with both Japan and Korea. It is now trying to build itself into a model city seeking to promote economic cooperation among China, Japan and Korea.