“He hopes that the resumption of the trilateral meeting format will reinforce the collaboration among the three countries, and foster strengthened cooperation in north-east Asia,” said a statement issued on Sunday by Ban’s spokesperson in New York.

The Secretary-General lauded Premier Li Keqiang of China, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and particularly President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea, who hosted the meeting in that country’s capital, for resuming the meetings after three and a half years.

“The United Nations encourages all parties to work closely together to promote mutual trust and cooperation for peace and prosperity in the region,” the statement added.

UN Photo/Evan Schneider (file)