Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone told a regional forum in Beijing on Monday that China, Japan and South Korea must spare no efforts to pursue peace and friendship.

The three nations should work hand-in-hand to increase Asia's voice in world affairs and realize cooperation, he told the Third Session of the Northeast Trilateral Forum.

He said that leaders of the three countries should understand that, at present, peace and friendship were more needed than ever for their countries. He urged them to continue following the principles of peace and friendship, mutual benefit and equality, mutual trust, and long-term stability.

Moreover, he urged them to respect one another by adopting the principle of no interference in any other country's internal affairs.

The three have achieved much in the field of cultural exchanges and should do more to help their citizens have greater awareness of their culture and transmit their common historic and cultural heritages, he said.

He said the three parties had reached a consensus on a leaders' summit. If held, it would be beneficial to peace and stability in Northeast Asia, increase Asia's voice in the world and help build a Northeast Asia Commonwealth.

The forum is co-sponsored by China's Xinhua News Agency, the South Korean leading daily newspaper JoongAng Ilbo, and Japan's Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.

Yasuhiro Nakasone, former Chinese vice premier Qian Qichen and former South Korean premier Lee Hong Koo led their teams at the event.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2008)