A proposed summit between Japanese, Chinese and South Korean leaders will be a forum to discuss future-oriented cooperation, Lee Hee-sup, head of the secretariat of an international organization promoting ties among the three countries, has said in an interview.

Institutionalizing collaboration among the three countries is the most important thing, said Lee, secretary-general of the Seoul-based Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat.

The leaders of Japan, China and South Korea are expected to meet in Seoul late this month, for the first summit between the three Asian neighbors since 2019.