TOKYO: The Japanese and South Korean governments are in the final stages of setting up a meeting between their trade ministers in Beijing on Dec. 22, Jiji Press learned Monday.

This would be the first meeting between the two countries' trade chiefs since bilateral relations deteriorated further following Japan's tightening of controls on semiconductor material exports to South Korea in July. From Japan, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshi Kajiyama is expected to attend the session, informed sources said.

Tokyo and Seoul hope that the expected ministerial meeting will work to improve the soured ties ahead of an envisaged summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in China late this month.

Topics at the ministerial session are also expected to include the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade pact among Japan, South Korea and other Asia-Pacific nations and an envisioned free trade agreement among Japan, China and South Korea, the sources said. Recently, India has signaled its intention to withdraw from the RCEP framework.

South Korea in September filed a petition with the World Trade Organization against the Japanese trade measure.

Last month, however, Seoul decided to suspend the WTO procedures, following mediation by the United States. The Japanese side agreed to resume working-level talks with South Korea on trade controls.

Still, the two East Asian nations remain far apart, with Seoul aiming to have Tokyo lift the tightening of its export controls early while Japan urging South Korea to review its own export control system.

JIJI Press