BEIJING - Chinese Foreign minister Yang Jiechi is to join his counterparts from Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in a ministerial meeting next weekend to discuss major regional and international issues of common concern, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said here Thursday.

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During the meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Kyoto, Japan, from March 19-20, the foreign ministers will exchange views on future cooperation between the three northeast Asian countries, Jiang said at a regular press conference held in Beijing.

She said the meeting would also lay the ground for the fourth summit of the leaders of the three countries.

"We wish that this foreign ministers' meeting will promote regional cooperation in northeast Asia and make a good preparation for the fourth meeting of the leaders of the three countries," Jiang said.

She said the forthcoming foreign ministers' meeting would also help consolidate and expand friendly relations among the three countries.

The fourth leaders' meeting of China, ROK and Japan is to be held in Japan in May. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is to attend the meeting.