Japanese PM in Beijing for leaders meeting

BEIJING - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda arrived in Beijing Saturday evening for the fifth meeting of leaders from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

The trilateral meeting, scheduled for May 13 to 14, will be chaired by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and attended by Yoshihiko Noda and ROK President Lee Myung-bak.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, the China-Japan Year of Friendly Exchanges, the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK, and the Year of China-ROK Friendly Exchanges.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Wednesday that cooperation among China, Japan and the ROK has developed rapidly with remarkable results, and he believes that the meeting will further boost trilateral cooperation through their joint efforts.

The first meeting of leaders from China, Japan and the ROK outside the ASEAN plus China, Japan and the ROK framework was held in Fukuoka, Japan in 2008.