Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) will help China develop its vast and underdeveloped western part by contributing to the region's environmental protection programs, the environment ministers of the two countries said Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference after a two-day meeting with her Chinese and South Korean counterparts, Kayoko Shimizu, director-general of Japan's Environment Agency, said Japan hopes to set up environmental protection pilot areas in western China in cooperation with China and ROK.

"Japan has been paying close attention to China's ongoing plan to develop its western part, ...and has already initiated some environmental protection projects in the region," Shimizu said.

Kim Myung-Ja, ROK environment minister, told reporters her country has launched an afforestation program, and indicated it will participate in similar plans in western China.

She said South Korea will actively participate in the development of western China, which covers 10 provinces.

Xie Zhenhua, director of State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) of China, said the three ministers have agreed on an initiative to set up environmental protection demonstration areas in western China to promote environmental protection and ecological conservation in the region.

The three ministers concluded the 2nd Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among China, Japan and ROK today, which was held for the purpose of implementing the environmental protection agreements reached during separate summit meetings between the three countries in 1998.

The First Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting was held early last year in Seoul, South Korea.