China, Japan and South Korea agreed on Sunday to restart cooperation and pave the way for a summit in the latest move to ease tensions between the Asian neighbours. 

Even as China and the US seek to mend frayed ties, Beijing is concerned that Washington and its key regional allies are strengthening their three-way partnership. 

Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo had agreed on annual summits from 2008 to bolster diplomatic and economic exchanges, but two-way rows and the COVID pandemic had interrupted the plan, with the three leaders last meeting in 2019. 

The three foreign ministers had met in the South Korean port of Busan for their first such meeting since 2019 after officials of the three countries agreed in September to arrange a trilateral summit at the “earliest convenient time”. 

The three ministers did not specify a timeframe for the summit. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol might not be able to meet this year, but their summit was likely in the near future, South Korea’s national security adviser, Cho Tae-yong, told the Yonhap news TV. 

The ministers agreed in their 100-minute talks to advance cooperation in six areas, including security, economy and technology, and promote concrete discussions to prepare for the summit, Japan's foreign ministry said in a statement.