1. The government of the Republic of Korea participated in the 2nd preliminary working-level meeting on ROK-China-Japan FTA, held in Qingdao, China on August 21 and exchanged views with its partners on how to proceed with the negotiation as well as its basic rules and scope, etc.

o From the ROK side, Choi Kyong-lim, Deputy Minister for FTA attended as a head delegate alongside other officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy and the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

o From China, Yu Jianhua, Assistant Minister of Commerce, and from Japan, Shin'ichi Nishimiya, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs attended as head delegates.

2. The working-level meeting is the result of the three parties’ agreement at the trilateral summit in May to launch preparations for initiating a trilateral FTA negotiation within this year. The first round of meeting was held in Tokyo in July, 2012.

3. The third round of preliminary working-level talks will be held in the ROK based on the principle of holding the meetings in rotation. The specific date will be decided upon after discussion among the three parties.

4. Based on the outcome of the preliminary working-level meeting, the ROK government will start the domestic procedure necessary for launching trilateral FTA negotiations and continue to gather the opinions of relevant parties and the experts.  

                          
                              Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation