Senior foreign affairs officials of China, Japan and Republic of Korea (ROK) will held a first-ever consultation in Beijing on May 19, Chinese Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

The consultation is part of a consensus reached this January at the seventh trilateral leaders' meeting of China, Japan and ROK when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and leaders from Japan and ROK agreed to establish a mechanism of regular consultations among senior foreign affairs officials of the three countries.

The three sides are expected to communicate on issues of common concern and properly handle the concerns of each country, according to a joint press statement of January's trilateral leaders' meeting in Philippines.

Chinese Foreign Ministry also revealed that Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Cui Tiankai, Japanese Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of ROK Shim Yoon-jo will attend the consultation.

Source: Xinhua