Naoto Kan leads Chinese PM Wen and South Korean President Lee on a visit to the area hit by quake and tsunami. He pledges a new phase in relations with Japan’s neighbours and “maximum transparency” in sharing information on nuclear dangers. Beijing and Tokyo sign trade deal.

Tokyo (AsiaNews/Agencies) – China, Japan and South Korea agreed to improve cooperation on ensuring safe atomic power as well as boost economic their three-way ties. The decision comes two months after Japan’s record earthquake and tsunami triggered the worst nuclear disaster in 25 years. Beijing and Tokyo also turned down their rhetoric as Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan says he would like to visit China this year.

Kan led Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on a visit to the Fukushima, which was hit by natural disasters that killed more than 24,000 people.

The Japanese leader promised his guests “maximum transparency” in sharing information on the crisis at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi atomic power plant.

“Rebuilding Japan’s disaster-stricken area and economic recovery is not just about the welfare of the Japanese people,” Wen said in a show of solidarity that lessens the traditional rivalry with Japan.

“It is also about economic and trade relations between our three countries, as well as about global economic growth,” he added.

Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul are committed to signing a free-trade agreement this year.

Wen and Kan also inked a bilateral trade agreement, an anonymous source in Japan’s Ministry of Economy said.

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