Japan, China, SKorea agree to play pivotal role against crisis

WASHINGTON, Nov 14, 2008 (AFP)

Japan, China and South Korea agreed on Friday to play “a pivotal role” in stabilizing Asia’s economy in a joint effort to fend off the impact of the global financial crisis. Japanese Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa and his South Korean and Chinese counterparts, Kang Man-Soo and Xie Xuren, held talks on the sidelines of a two-day financial summit, which began Friday afternoon in Washington.

“We shared the views that enhancement of collaboration among the three countries is crucial to effectively address the global financial crisis,” the three ministers said in a joint statement. “The three countries ... should play a pivotal role in maintaining economic and financial stability of the region, which is not only helpful for the Asian region but also contributing to the world economy,” the statement said.