On March 19, 2011, the fifth Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting among Japan, China and the ROK was held in Kyoto, Japan. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto, and South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Kim Sung Hwan attended the meeting.

Prior to the meeting, officials from three countries stood in silent tribute to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Chinese and South Korean foreign ministers offered condolences to Japan, saying that they are willing to extend necessary assistance for Japan to overcome difficulties and rebuild homeland. The Japanese side expressed thanks for this.

The three foreign ministers exchanged views on promoting cooperation among China, Japan and the ROK, preparations for the Fourth China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting, East Asia cooperation, the situation on the Korean Peninsula and other regional and international affairs of common concern.

Yang said that the China-Japan-ROK cooperation is an important part of East Asian cooperation, and enriching the partnership among the three is in line with the common interest of the three countries and has huge potential. China, Japan and the ROK should continue to build more stable strategic mutual trust and remain committed to good-neighborly friendship and common development of the three countries and this region.

Yang urged the three countries to promote cooperation in disaster management and other in-depth mutually beneficial cooperation, expand social and cultural exchanges, and build efficient cooperation mechanism. China will join hands with Japan and ROK and make good preparations to ensure the fruitfulness of the Fourth China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting, Yang added.

The three foreign ministers agreed that the trilateral cooperation is not only conducive to the common development of the three countries, but also to peace, stability and prosperity of this region and the world at large. The three parties also discussed the cooperation in politics, economy, society, culture, disaster management and other international affairs and said they will work together to promote the fruitful cooperation and open up new fields and new ways in cooperation.

The foreign ministers decided to hold the 6th Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting in China next year. Following the meeting, they jointly met the press.