The Asian economic powers, South Korea, Japan, and China, intend to hold a trilateral summit for their leaders in the near future, after a four-year hiatus due to bilateral disputes and the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Tuesday, after talks between senior officials from the three countries in Seoul, that the meeting will take place as soon as possible.

The three foreign ministers are scheduled to meet to prepare for the summit.

Meanwhile, Japan's Kyodo News agency reported, citing diplomatic sources, that South Korea has proposed that the summit be held next December. A joint announcement from Chinese leader Xi Jinping, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may follow.

It is worth noting that the leaders of the three countries met for a summit for the first time in 2008 and agreed on the necessity of holding annual meetings.