A forum on regional economic cooperation between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) was held in Dalian Monday, a port city in Northeast China's Liaoning province.

The forum aims to promote economic cooperation between the local government, official from the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Li Hui, assistant to minister of foreign affairs of China addressed the opening ceremony, saying China, Japan and the ROK are all important countries of northeast Asia and bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the three countries is conducive to economic development, regional stability and economic integration of the northeast Asia.

Exchanges between the local governments play an important role in enhancing mutual understanding between peoples of the three countries and safeguarding regional and global peace and prosperity, he stressed.

Masaaki Nakada, executive director of the Japan Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) and Lee Kap Young, executive director of the Korea Council of Local Governmentfor International Relations (KLAFIR) also said at the opening ceremony, with links between Japan, the ROK and cities of east China becomes closer, this regional faces great challenges.

"International exchanges is the best means to meet those challenges of 21st century," they said.

The Forum is held to implement an agreement to expand exchangesand cooperation between local government reached in October, 2003 by leaders of the three countries, sources from Chinese Foreign Ministry said, adding it is also helpful to implement the strategyof rejuvenating industrial base of northeast China.

About 220 representatives from China, Japan and the ROK attended the meeting, organized jointly by Chinese Foreign Ministry and the CLAIR and the KLAFIR. During the three-day meeting, representatives will exchange views on rejuvenating industrial base of northeast China, promoting exchanges and economic cooperation between China, Japan and the ROK, sources said.

Source: Xinhua