(LEAD) Seoul to house secretariat for regional cooperation body

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional remarks, more information; CHANGES attribution for
remarks)
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea, Japan and China have agreed to establish a
permanent secretariat for three-way cooperation in Seoul, an organization that
could eventually lead to the formation of a regional community in East Asia,
Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The agreement came at a three-way meeting between South Korea's Deputy Foreign
Minister Lee Yong-joon and his Chinese counterpart Hu Zhengye and Japanese
counterpart Sasae Kenichiro in Beijing.
"The three countries have tentatively agreed to set up a secretariat for
trilateral cooperation between the countries in Seoul," the ministry said in a
statement, adding the final decision will be announced when the countries'
leaders meet later in the year for a three-way summit.
The summit, the fourth of its kind, will be held before the end of June, a
ministry official told reporters.
"This secretariat will be a very important catalyst for the establishment of a
regional community in East Asia," he said, requesting anonymity.
The countries are working to establish the Seoul office in the first half of next
year. It will likely be staffed by some 20 government officials and
representatives from the three countries, according to the official.
Currently, there are over 50 different regular dialogues between the three
countries.
The establishment of the office in Seoul will lead to more effective and
increased communication among the countries and also provide an opportunity for
South Korea to play a leading role in the formation of a regional community with
the two largest economies in East Asia, the official said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)

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